Impact of RBC Transfusion on Peripheral Capillary Oxygen Saturation and Partial Pressure of Arterial Oxygen

RBCs are known to undergo deleterious changes during storage, known as storage lesions, which have been shown to result in decreased oxygen-carrying capacity. However, there is inadequate literature describing the effects of stored RBC allogeneic transfusion on oxygen parameters in vivo. The oxygen standard parameters were retrospectively assessed before and after RBC transfusion.

Patients who received 1 RBC transfusion were assessed for hemoglobin (Hb) levels, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation (Spo2), and partial pressure of arterial oxygen (Pao2) from 12 hours before and 24 hours after transfusion.

In total, 78 patients who were monitored by Spo2 and 28 patients monitored by Pao2 were included in this analysis. Following RBC transfusion, Hb levels increased significantly (P < .001); however, there was a significant decrease in both Spo2 and Pao2 within 24 hours after transfusion (P = .04 and P = .003, respectively), indicating lower tissue oxygenation and lower soluble oxygen level.

This single-center, retrospective study revealed evidence of significantly decreased oxygenation and tissue perfusion after single-unit RBC transfusion, despite corrected Hb levels.