Sick neonates often require periodic small volume transfusion (10mg/kg) to replace blood draw for laboratory monitoring during their hospital stay. The effect of packed red cel transfudion on the hematocrit, potassium, ionized calcium, acid base
status,
glucose and indirect bilirubin was investigated in 25 transfusions.
Analysis of transfused blood by the age of the red cells, older red cells (more than 5 days old, 13±7 days) showed increased potassium (27.2±14.1mEq/L vs 11.3±4.9mEq/L), decreased bicarbonate (14.4±2.6mEq/L) and glucose (130±28mg/dl vs
203±93mg/dl) compared with newer red cells (less than 5 days)(p<0.05). No significant changes occured in hematocrit and pH. Inspite of these results, the transfusion of the older red cells did not affect the older red cells did not affect the
serum
potassium, ionized calcium, pH, bicarbonate, glucose and indirect bilirubin level in neonates.
The hematocrit of infants increated significantly after transfusion from 29.6%±4.3% to 38.3%±6.1%(mean±SD)(P<0.05). Transfusion of older red cells seemed to be as equally effective as newer ones. The valus of hematocrit obtained immediately
after
transfusion does not show any differences compared to those obtained 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours after transfusion.
The result in the study indicate that there was no adverse effect after transfusion with packed red cell more than 5 days old and no significant difference in hematocrit observed between 0 to 24 hours following transfusion.
Therfore old red cell more than 5 days can be used safely for sick neonatal transfusion and the stored donor blood can be optimzed for repeated blood transfusion.
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