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The use of frozen blood in neonatal exchange transfusion
Because of inability to quickly locate donors to provide fresh heparinized blood, seven exchange transfusions were performed on four newborns with hemolytic disease due to Rhesus incompatibility using previously frozen erythrocytes suspended in albumin or heparinized, decitrated fresh frozen plasma. Platellets were added to one unit of previously frozen erythrocytes because of severe thrombocytopenia in one patient following an earlier exchange transfusion. The hematologic and bilirubin removing responses were comparable to those seen with fresh heparinized whole blood. Using this method, the safest red blood cells available, namely the mother's, can be drawn and frozen early in gestation for subsequent exchange transfusion.
Because of inability to quickly locate donors to provide fresh heparinized blood, seven exchange transfusions were performed on four newborns with hemolytic disease due to Rhesus incompatibility using previously frozen erythrocytes suspended in albumin or heparinized, decitrated fresh frozen plasma. Platellets were added to one unit of previously frozen erythrocytes because of severe thrombocytopenia in one patient following an earlier exchange transfusion. The hematologic and bilirubin removing responses were comparable to those seen with fresh heparinized whole blood. Using this method, the safest red blood cells available, namely the mother's, can be drawn and frozen early in gestation for subsequent exchange transfusion.