Transfusion practices among children undergoing cardiac surgery admitted to the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital Paediatrics Intensive Care Unit
Master Thesis
2018
Permanent link to this Item
Authors
Journal Title
Link to Journal
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Publisher
University of Cape Town
Faculty
License
Series
Abstract
Objective- We aimed to describe the use of blood products following cardiac surgery, as well as the outcomes and factors associated with post-operative blood product use
Design- Prospective, single centre observational study
Setting- Paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Cape Town, South Africa
Patients- One hundred and twenty-six children <18 years old admitted to the PICU following cardiac surgery between July 2017 and January 2018
Interventions- None
Measurements and Main Results- The data was prospectively obtained from blood bank charts, intraoperative and PICU observation charts. Demographic data, intraoperative details and post-operative blood product use were extracted from patient records and entered in a standardised case record form. Fifty three percent of children received blood products following cardiac surgery. The blood products transfused included cryoprecipitate (30.9%), packed red cells (22.2%), albumin (18.3%), fresh frozen plasma FFP (15.9%) and platelet concentrate (15.1%). Low haemoglobin level was commonest indication (86%) for red cell use. Bleeding was the commonest indication for FFP (70%) and cryoprecipitate (67%) use. Thrombocytopenia was the commonest indication (84%) for platelet use while hypotension episodes were predominant (95%) in those who received albumin. The standardized mortality ratio was 3.1 vs 0, respectively, among transfused versus non-transfused patients (p<0.0001). The median (IQR) duration of PICU stay was 5 (3-11) vs 2 (2-5) days, respectively in those transfused versus non-transfused (p<0.0001). The median (IQR) ventilation duration was 47(22-132) hours vs 20 (6-27) hours, respectively among the transfused versus non-transfused (p=<0.0001). The factors associated with blood-product use post cardiac surgery include previous cardiac surgery, younger age, lower weights, and prolonged coagulation parameters (p=<0.05).
Conclusion- There is high usage of blood products among children post cardiac surgery. The children transfused had a longer ICU stay, ventilation duration, and higher standardized mortality ratio compared to the non-transfused.
Description
Keywords
Reference:
Fitzwanga, K. 2018. Transfusion practices among children undergoing cardiac surgery admitted to the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital Paediatrics Intensive Care Unit. University of Cape Town.