Packed red blood cell age does not impact adverse events or outcomes after subarachnoid haemorrhage

To determine if the age of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) is associated with adverse events or outcomes in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH).

Analyse data on PRBC age to complications and outcomes in patients with SAH.

Patients who receive a PRBC transfusion after SAH have a higher rate of complications, and older PRBC age may be responsible for this.

We prospectively recorded clinical and demographic data, acute adverse effects related to transfusion, major hospital events, radiographic cerebral infarction, PRBC age and outcomes in 119 patients with SAH who received a PRBC transfusion. Patients were followed for outcomes at 14 days or discharge, 28 days and 3 months with the modified Rankin scale (a measure of neurologic function).

In 241 PRBC transfusions, there was new fever in 36 (15%), hypotension in 23 (10%), pulmonary oedema or symptomatic respiratory distress in 5 (2%) and rash in 1 (1%). Age of PRBCs administered was not associated with vasospasm, cerebral infarction, acute adverse events or outcomes (P > 0·1 for all).

In this small registry of patients with SAH, the age of transfused PRBCs was not associated with adverse events or outcomes.