Anest. intenziv. Med. 2012;23(3):152-155

Blood transfusion in children and neonatesUpdate in Intensive Care Medicine

Černá Olga

Klinika dětského a dorostového lékařství Všeobecné fakultní nemocnice a 1. lékařské fakulty Univerzity Karlovy

Transfusion of a blood product is an integral part of the comprehensive therapy used in critically ill children and neonates. This population is in general at a high risk of side-effects due to the administered blood transfusion. It is considered that the techniques of preparation of blood products have evolved with the technological advances to increase the safety of the therapy in young children and neonates especially. Unambiguous guidelines are not published yet whereas protocols and indications for blood transfusion and the transfusion practice follow recommendations of specialist societies. They depend on the age of the child, haemoglobin or haematocrit values, clinical condition and diagnosis of the child. A review of evidence-based guidelines and transfusion practices is presented in this article.

Keywords: transfusion; red blood cell transfusion; thrombocytes transfusion; fresh-frozen plasma

Received: January 2, 2012; Accepted: May 31, 2012; Published: June 1, 2012  Show citation