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. 2019 Dec;39(12):1670-1675.
doi: 10.1038/s41372-019-0515-6. Epub 2019 Oct 3.

Patterns of phlebotomy blood loss and transfusions in extremely low birth weight infants

Mihai Puia-Dumitrescu  1   2 , David T Tanaka  2 , Tracy G Spears  3 , Cecil J Daniel  3 , Karan R Kumar  2   3 , Kamlesh Athavale  2 , Sandra E Juul  1 , P Brian Smith  4   5
Affiliations

Patterns of phlebotomy blood loss and transfusions in extremely low birth weight infants

Mihai Puia-Dumitrescu et al. J Perinatol. 2019 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: Characterize frequency and volume of blood draws and transfusions in extremely low birth weight infants in the first 10 weeks of life.

Study design: We included infants with a birth weight <1000 g born 23 0/7-29 6/7 weeks gestational age (GA) and with a length of stay ≥10 weeks, admitted between 2014 and 2016 to a single neonatal intensive care unit.

Results: Of 54 infants, median (25th, 75th percentile) GA and birth weight were 25 weeks (24, 26) and 665 g (587, 822), respectively. Median number of blood draws per infant decreased from 57 (49, 65) in week 1 to 12 (8, 22) in week 10. Median volume of blood extracted was 83 mL (70, 97), and median number of blood transfusions was 8 (5, 10).

Conclusions: This cohort experienced a high number and volume of blood draws. Draw frequency and transfusions decreased over the first 10 weeks of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with ethical standards

Conflict of interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Volume of blood drawn by week of life. Volume of blood drawn by week of life in the first 10 weeks of life
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Volume of blood drawn by gestational age. Volume of blood drawn by gestational age in the first 10 weeks of life
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Volume of blood drawn by birth weight. Volume of blood drawn by birth weight in the first 2 weeks of life
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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