Red blood cell transfusions and potentially related morbidities in neonates under 32 weeks' gestation

Banked term umbilical cord blood to meet the packed red blood cell transfusion needs of extremely-low-gestational-age neonates: a feasibility analysis

OBJECTIVES

To assess the feasibility of drawing, processing, safety-testing, and banking term umbilical cord blood to meet the packed red blood cell transfusion (RBC Tx) needs of extremely-low-gestational-age neonates (ELGANs).

DESIGN

(1) Retrospectively analyze all ELGANs RBC Tx over the past three years, (2) Estimate local cord blood availability, (3) Assess interest in this project, and implementation barriers, through stakeholder surveys.

RESULTS

In three years we cared for 266 ELGANs; 165 (62%) received ≥1 RBC Tx. Annual RBC Tx averaged 197 (95% CI, 152-243). If 10% of our 10,353 annual term births had cord blood drawn and processed, and half of those tested were acceptable for Tx, collections would exceed the 95th % upper estimate for need by >four-fold. Interest exceeded 97%. Identified barriers included FDA approval, training to collect cord blood, and cost.

CONCLUSION

RBC Tx needs of ELGANS could be met by local cord blood collection.

Viscoelastic coagulation testing in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: advantages and pitfalls in clinical practice

The expression "developmental hemostasis" indicates the age-related physiological changes occurring during the maturational process of the hemostatic system. Despite the quantitative and qualitative alterations, the neonatal hemostatic system is competent and well-balanced. Conventional coagulation tests do not provide reliable information as they only explore the procoagulants during the neonatal period. In contrast, viscoelastic coagulation tests (VCTs), such as viscoelastic coagulation monitoring (VCM), thromboelastography (TEG or ClotPro), and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), are point-of-care assays that provide a quick, dynamic and global view of the hemostatic process, allowing prompt and individualized therapeutic intervention when necessary. Their use in neonatal care is on the increase and they could help monitor patients at risk of hemostatic derangement. In addition, they are crucial for anticoagulation monitoring during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Moreover, implementing VCT-based monitoring could optimize blood product use.

Effects of blood sampling stewardship and erythropoietin administration in extremely low birth weight infants-a quality improvement non-controlled before-and-after retrospective study

The majority of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates receive red blood cell (RBC) transfusions; at least 50% receive multiple transfusions. Anemia care bundles could be the most effective approach to reduce transfusion rates. We conducted a quality improvement non-controlled before-and-after retrospective study involving 345 ELBW infants admitted over a 5-year period in two consecutive epochs before and after implementation of an anemia care bundle in January 2017. Bundle components included (a) prophylactic subcutaneous erythropoietin twice each week (600 IU/kg/week) from day 7 through 8 weeks of age and (b) blood sampling stewardship in the first five postnatal weeks. Early postnatal blood sampling losses were significantly reduced following the implementation of the care bundle (21.2 ml/kg vs 25 ml/kg, P < 0.001). We found a 50% reduction in the rate of multiple RBC transfusions (adjusted RR 0.45, 95% CI: 0.34-0.59) and a reduced odds of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (4% vs 10%, adjusted OR 0.38 (95% CI: 0.15-0.78)) among infants that received the anemia care bundle (n = 182 infants). The overall transfusion rate, number and volume of transfusions, and multiple donor exposures were also significantly reduced.Conclusion: The combination of extended subcutaneous erythropoietin administration and reduced early postnatal blood sampling was associated with a significant reduction in the rate of multiple erythrocyte transfusions and NEC in ELBW neonates. What is known: • The majority of extremely low birth weight neonates continue to require blood transfusions despite advances in standardized transfusion practices; at least 50% require multiple transfusions. • Anemia care bundles, employing a combination of anemia prevention strategies, can effectively reduce the RBC transfusion rates in ELBW infants. What is new: • A combination of extended subcutaneous erythropoietin supplementation and blood sampling stewardship practices reduced the rate of multiple RBC transfusions in ELBW neonates by 50%. • Implementation of the anemia care bundle was associated with a significant reduction in the rates of necrotizing enterocolitis.