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Autologous blood transfusion in the pediatric patient
1Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA.
Insights
Autologous blood donation, using one's own blood, is safe for pediatric patients, even those as young as six years old. This approach reduces the need for allogeneic transfusions and associated risks in children.
Area of Science:
- Transfusion Medicine
- Pediatric Hematology
- Blood Banking
Background:
- Public concern over blood safety has driven the use of autologous blood donations.
- Autologous transfusions offer benefits like reduced reactions and lower risk of transfusion-transmitted infections.
- Pediatric patients have been underrepresented in studies on autologous blood usage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on autologous blood use in pediatric patients.
- To address considerations for collecting autologous blood from pediatric donors.
- To explore alternative methods for providing autologous blood in pediatric settings.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of autologous blood usage in pediatric patients.
- Discussion of collection volumes and eligibility criteria for pediatric donors.
- Exploration of intraoperative hemodilution and blood salvage techniques.
Main Results:
- Children as young as six years may be suitable candidates for autologous blood donation prior to surgery.
- Various methods exist to provide autologous blood for pediatric patients.
- Consideration of all options can minimize the need for allogeneic blood transfusions.
Conclusions:
- Autologous blood donation and related strategies are viable for pediatric patients.
- These methods can significantly reduce the risks associated with allogeneic blood transfusions in children.
- Further research and application of these techniques can improve pediatric transfusion safety.
Abstract:
The use of autologous blood has been encouraged by blood banks and transfusion services for the past 10 years, mainly because of public concern over the safety of blood. The virtues include reduced likelihood of reactions to transfused blood and reduction or elimination of the risk of alloimmunization and transfusion transmitted diseases such as hepatitis C and the human immunodeficiency virus. The pediatric patient population has been largely excluded from published series on autologous blood usage. In this article, the literature on the use of autologous blood in pediatric patients is reviewed, and some considerations for collecting autologous blood from smaller patients are addressed, including the volume of blood to collect from smaller patients. Based on the experience reported in the literature, patients as young as 6 years of age may be candidates for autologous blood donation before a scheduled surgical procedure. Other methods to provide autologous blood for pediatric patients are discussed, including intraoperative hemodilution and intraoperative and postoperative blood salvage. By considering all the potential options available to pediatric patients, the likelihood of requiring transfusion of allogeneic blood can be reduced, along with the associated risks.