International Survey of Transfusion Practices for Extremely Premature Infants
Section snippets
Methods
Neonatologists in 22 countries were invited to fill out an 11-question web-based survey via Survey Monkey (SurveyMonkey.com, LLC, Palo Alto, CA; www.surveymonkey.com). For each country, nominated collaborators were asked to forward a letter of invitation to take part in a neonatal red cell transfusion survey to all eligible neonatal physicians. Physicians were asked to identify their country of practice, whether their unit had standard guidelines for transfusion, whether they routinely used
Results
One thousand eighteen neonatologists from 11 countries responded with the majority from the United States (67.5% of neonatologists), followed by Germany (10.7%), Japan (8.0%), the United Kingdom (4.9%), Spain (3.9%), Italy (2.6%), Colombia (0.6%), Argentina (0.4%), Canada (0.4%), Belgium (0.1%), and the Netherlands (0.1%). Half of the respondents (51.1%) reported having a written policy with specific red cell transfusion guidelines in their unit. Erythropoietin was routinely used by 26.0% of
Discussion
Red blood cell transfusion practices vary widely among practicing neonatologists worldwide. The current available data to guide clinical management of red blood cell transfusions in extremely premature infants are limited. Two moderate-sized, randomized trials have compared restrictive versus liberal transfusion criteria in extremely low-birth-weight infant population: the Iowa and PINT trials.17, 18 Both trials used transfusion thresholds that varied with patient status, respiratory support,
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