BACKGROUND: Blood transfusion requirements for preterm infants are greater than for newborn ones. We compare blood transfusion requirements for newborn and premature infants and their pathology: clinical or surgical; hemorragic accidents and survival. METHODS: 48 newborns classified in 2 groups: 26 newborn and 22 preterm infants received 251 units of blood components: 177 units of red cell concentrates, 36 of platelet concentrates, 30 of fresh frozen plasma and 8 of total blood in a 186 days period. We analyzed total requirements of components in each group and daily, under a live-infant/day rate until 120 days. RESULTS: The all-components median requirements were 7.31 units for premature and 3.46 for newborn infants. Daily requirements analyzes reveal that requirements were greater before 60th day of life (d.l.) on clinical patients and after 86th d.l. may be caused by surgical acts. Hemorragic accidents happen on premature with less than 60.000 platelets/mm³. The survival wave by number of transfusions, until 186 d.l., shows an inversely proportional trend between the number of transfusions done and the hope of life. CONCLUSIONS: Blood requirements for preterm infants are greater than for term ones. Those requirements are related to their pathology. Prophylatic platelet transfusions may reduce hemorrhagic accidents then red blood cell transfusions in preterm infants group. The number of transfusions over 10 is a surrogate marker of bad prognosis for both groups up to 120 d.l.
Transfusion; Newborn infants; Premature infants
