Pattern of Blood Transfusion in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Hospital in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Blood transfusion is a common procedure in the neonatal unit of most hospitals. However, it is not completely free from possible complications that can affect the overall outcome of the patient. The transfusion frequency of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH) was perceived to be high. As a result, the study was embarked upon to document the pattern of blood transfusion in the NICU of the DELSUTH.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of neonatal blood transfusion, the indications, the types of blood and blood products transfused, and to document the transfusion reactions in the NICU of the DELSUTH.

Methodology: The study was an analysis of secondary data obtained from NICU transfusion register and the admission register from 1^st of January 2020 to 30^th June 2021. Data extracted included hospital number, age, sex, packed cell volume, indications for blood transfusion, blood groups of neonates, number of transfusions per neonates, types of transfusions, blood and blood products transfused and transfusion reactions documented during the period under review. The data were entered into Excel Spreadsheet and analysis was with IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows 7, version 23

Results:  There were 178 admissions over the study period with 100 (56.2%) males and 78 (43.8%) females. One hundred and seven were born vaginally (60.1%) and 77 (43.3%) neonates were born preterm. There were 99 neonatal transfusions giving a prevalence of 55.6%. The indications for transfusion were anaemia, hyperbilirunaemia and thrombocytopaenia. Whole blood and sedimented blood were the only blood transfused during the period under review. There was no transfusion reaction documented during the period under review.

Conclusion: The prevalence of blood transfusion in the neonatal unit of the DELSUTH was high, nevertheless, no transfusion reaction was recorded. Despite the need for packed red cells and platelets concentrate in the NICU, only whole blood and sedimented blood were transfused.