Blood component transfusion in the intensive care nursery. Indications and special problems

Increasingly, transfusions of component blood products are used in the setting of the neonatal intensive care unit. There is a need to analyze the indications and potential complications of this therapy critically. We review here the problems primarily unique to the neonatal population and suggest an approach to the transfusion requirements of this group. Specifically, we discuss the rationale, indications and complications of red cell, granulocyte, and platelet transfusions in these patients. Discussion of exchange transfusion and the particular blood banking requirements of these patients will be reviewed in subsequent articles.