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Packed red blood cell transfusion improved sucking among neonates with anemia of prematurity
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Treating anemia of prematurity with packed red blood cell transfusion resulted in improved feeding among neonates who were poor feeders prior to correction of the condition, according to the results of a nonexperimental intervention study.
“Anemia of prematurity is frequently blamed for impairing feeding and weight gain because of diversion of tissue oxygen delivery and energy supplies to other vital body functions,” Ruben Bromiker, MD, of Hebrew University of Jerusalem Medical School, and colleagues wrote as part of the study background.
In this analysis, researchers treated 36 neonates aged 34 weeks or younger for anemia of prematurity. Transfusion was indicated when infants had either a capillary hematocrit of 27% or lower when supplemental oxygen was not required, or a capillary hematocrit of 35% when it was required.
Patients received transfusion of 15 mL of packed red blood cells per 1 kg of body weight. Sucking was measured prior to transfusion as a baseline measurement and again 1 to 2 days after transfusion.
No significant difference was found in the number of sucks or sucking parameters — sucks per burst or suck duration — between the two study time points. However, a difference in weight gain was observed post-transfusion compared with weight gain in the week prior to the intervention.
When the researchers stratified the patients by baseline sucking quality, they found that those infants who were poor feeders prior to the intervention had an increased number of sucks, increased number of sucks per burst and an increase in ingested volume compared with prior to the intervention. No differences were found post-transfusion for those infants who were classified as better feeders at baseline.
“Poor feeding and failure to gain weight may be considered as adjuncts to hematological parameters in the decision-making process as to whether to transfuse premature infants for anemia of prematurity, although further data should be obtained to support this concept,” the researchers wrote.
Reference:
- Bromiker R. Arch Pediatric Adolesc Med. 2012;doi:10.1001/archpediatrics.2012.676.