Evaluation of a pediatric patient blood management program: A pre-/post-study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Hematology
• Transfusion Medicine
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are crucial but carry risks of transfusion-associated adverse events (TAEEs).
• Patient blood management (PBM) is a multidisciplinary approach to optimize transfusions.
• The impact of PBM in pediatric settings requires further evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a PBM program on transfusion utilization and TAEEs in a pediatric hospital.
• To compare transfusion practices and outcomes before and after PBM implementation.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study comparing 2015 (pre-PBM) and 2019 (post-PBM).
• Included children aged 4 months to 18 years.
• Analyzed transfusion utilization, RBC guideline adherence, and TAEEs from electronic health records.

Main Results:

• Fewer hospitalizations involved transfusions post-PBM (p=0.02).
• Lower pre-transfusion hemoglobin levels and smaller RBC transfusion volumes were observed post-PBM (p<0.01).
• No statistically significant difference in TAEE incidence was found.

Conclusions:

• PBM implementation may effectively reduce RBC transfusion exposure in hospitalized children.
• Further research is needed to confirm TAEE reduction and assess PBM cost-effectiveness in pediatrics.