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Updated: May 12, 2026
Transcutaneous Microcirculatory Imaging in Preterm Neonates
Published on: December 31, 2015
[Evaluation of the practice of transfusion in the anemia in preterm infants]
S Elguazzar1, A Mdaghri Alaoui, A Thimou Izgua
1Service de Néonatologie, Pédiatrie V, Hôpital d'Enfants, Faculté de Médecine et Pharmacie, Université Mohammed V-Souissi, Rabat, Maroc.
Insights
Early anemia in preterm infants often leads to erythrocyte transfusions. This study found transfused infants were more premature, had lower birth weights, and longer hospital stays, indicating a need for preventive measures.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Hematology
- Clinical Practice Evaluation
Background:
- Early anemia is common in preterm infants.
- Erythrocyte transfusions are a frequent remedy for anemia in neonates.
- Transfusion criteria vary significantly between neonatal centers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate transfusion practices for anemia in preterm infants at a specific neonatal service.
- To analyze the clinical and biological indications for blood transfusions in this population.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive study of 113 preterm infants (<37 weeks gestation) hospitalized in 2006.
- Data collected included gestational age, birth weight, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels.
- Comparison between transfused (n=65) and non-transfused (n=48) groups using statistical tests (Chi-squared, t-Student).
Main Results:
- 57.5% of preterm infants received transfusions.
- Transfused infants were significantly more premature, had lower birth weights, longer hospitalizations, and higher rates of nosocomial infections and postnatal bleeding.
- Transfused infants had lower initial hemoglobin and hematocrit levels compared to non-transfused infants.
Conclusions:
- Blood transfusion use is frequent in this neonatal setting.
- Preventive strategies are necessary to reduce the incidence of transfusions.
- Further research into optimizing transfusion criteria and anemia management in preterm infants is warranted.
Unlabelled:
The early anemia in preterm infants, usually implies as a remedy, the use of erythrocyte transfusions indicated according to transfusion criteria which are variable from one neonatal center to another.
Objective:
To evaluate our practice of transfusions concerning the anemia in preterm infants.
Methods:
A descriptive study on 113 preterm infants whose gestational age is < 37 weeks and who were hospitalised in Neonatal Service at the Infants Hospital at Rabat during the year 2006, by recording the gestational age, the weight at birth, the rate of haemoglobin and hematocrit at the first admission of the infant and before his first blood transfusion and finally the clinical and biological indications. In order to analyse the criteria of blood transfusion, we have compared between two groups: a group A of 65 transfused preterm infants and a group B of 48 non-transfused with the test of Chi2 and t Student at threshold of P < 0,005.
Results:
The medium gestational age was that of 33 weeks and the medium weight at birth was 1.672 g. 57,5% of preterm infants were transfused. The preterm babies who has received transfusion compared to those who have not, are significantly more preterm, their weight at birth is weak and the time of hospitalisation is longer, having had more nosocomial infections, postnatal bleeding and their haemoglobin and hematocrit rate at birth is lower (P < 0,001). 41,5% of transfused infants had presented clinical signs of anemia and had been transfused one week earlier than asymptomatic infants and had elevated rates of haemoglobin and hematocrit (P < 0,005).
Conclusion:
The use of blood transfusion is frequent in our context and implies preventive measures to reduce it.
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