Category: Pediatrics
Keywords: transfusion, anemia, hemoglobin (PubMed Search)
Posted: 4/20/2012 by Mimi Lu, MD
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Children are at higher risk for complications related to the transfusion of blood products compared with adults. So when should we consider transfusion?
Normal hemoglobin values:
- highest at birth (14 - 24 g/dL),
- decreasing to 8 to 14 g/dL at 3 months,
- increasing to 10 to 14 g/dL at age 6 months to 6 years, 11 to 16 g/dL at age 7 to 12 years, and 11.5 to 18 g/dL in adulthood.
- Although the number of platelets are in the normal range at birth, their function is impaired.
For infants younger than 4 months, thresholds for red blood cell transfusions:
- hemoglobin levels are 12 g/dL for preterm infants or term infants born anemic,
- 11 g/dL for chronic oxygen dependency,
- 12 to 14 g/dL for severe pulmonary disease,
- 7 g/dL for late anemia in a stable infant,
- 12 g/dL for acute blood loss exceeding 10% of estimated blood volume.
For infants older than 4 months, thresholds for red blood cell transfusions:
- hemoglobin levels are 7 g/dL in a stable infant,
- 7 to 8 g/dL in a critically unwell infant or child,
- 8 g/dL in an infant or child with perioperative bleeding,
- 9 g/dL in an infant or child with cyanotic congenital heart disease (increased oxygen demand).
- 9 g/dl in children with thalassemia major (to slow bone marrow stimulation)
For children with sickle cell disease (SCD):
- threshold is 7 to 9 g/dL, or more than 9 g/dL if the child has previously had a stroke.
- perioperatively for major surgery: 9 to 11 g/dL, and sickle hemoglobin should be less than 30%, or less than 20% for thoracic or neurosurgery.
Bottom line:
A threshold of 7 g/dL is indicated for the transfusion of packed red blood cells in most children.
Reference:
1) Transfusion guidelines in children. Anasethesia and Intensive Care Medicine. 2012;13(1);20–23.
2) Medscape clinical education briefs
