Red Blood Cell Transfusion Practice Pattern Before and After Implementation of a Local Restrictive Transfusion Protocol in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Background: A restrictive red blood cell (RBC) transfusion guideline was established in 2019 in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), suggesting a hemoglobin concentration threshold of 7 g/dL. Objectives: (a) To determine its impact on the number of RBC transfusions and donor exposure; (b) to characterize RBC-transfusion determinants and justifications. Study Design: Single-center retrospective historical control study comparing all neonates consecutively admitted to the NICU during two five-month periods: 401 patients in 2013 before and 402 patients in 2021 after restrictive guideline implementation. Possible determinants were assessed via logistic regressions and justifications via a questionnaire. Results: In 2021, 9.2% of neonates received at least one RBC transfusion compared to 13.5% in 2013 ( p = .075). Adherence to protocol thresholds was 50%. Implementation of a restrictive transfusion protocol had some impact on determinants related to neonatal morbidity and illness severity and some impact on justifications being mainly based on hemoglobin value. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that the implementation of a restrictive RBC transfusion protocol tended to decrease transfusion rates and donor exposure in the NICU, but the trend was not statistically significant. Future work should focus on improving protocol adherence.