Blood transfusions in preterm infants: changes on perfusion index and intermittent hypoxemia

• DOI: 10.1111/trf.14808
• Publication Date: 2018-10-06T14:49:56Z
• Authors: Katrina T. Ibonia; Henrietta S. Bada; Philip M. Westgate; Enrique Gomez‐Pomar; Prasad Bhandary; Abhijit Patwardhan; Elie G. Abu Jawdeh
• Keywords: Oxygen Saturation; Oxygenation index

BACKGROUND Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion decreases intermittent hypoxemia (IH) events beyond the first week of life. This benefit may be related to improved perfusion respiratory control network. Perfusion index (PI) is a measure provided by pulse oximeter. We hypothesized that in IH after RBC associated with an increase PI. In addition, we assessed value PI and clinical measures predicting effect on IH. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS prospectively enrolled infants less than 30 weeks' gestation age. oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) were monitored high‐resolution oximeters 24 hours before transfusion. Data analyzed at three postnatal periods: Epoch 1, life (1 7 days life); 2, 4 weeks (8 28 3, 8 RESULTS A total 118 transfusions analyzed. significantly decreased Epochs 3. increased transfusion, but it did not correlate decrease measures. Mechanical ventilation, fraction inspired (FiO ), influenced effects oxygenation. CONCLUSIONS The Pretransfusion support predicted