Abstract:

Objective: The aim of the study is; evaluation of patients who received blood and blood products transfusions, transfusion indications, transfusion threshold values, transfusion frequency and the relationship between transfusion frequency and mortality. Material and Methods: 419 patients between the ages of 28 days and 18 years, who underwent blood and blood product transfusion between January 1/ 2018, and December 31/2020, in the Department of Pediatrics, were retrospectively analyzed. Results: It was determined that 224 (53.5%) of the patients included in the study were male, 195 (46.5%) were female, the mean age was 5.3±5.5 years, and the frequency of transfusion was 4.3±9.2 times. Of the patients, 338 received erythrocyte suspension, 124 received thrombocyte suspension, and 110 had fresh frozen plasma transfusions. The pre-transfusion threshold values were found to be 7.1 g/dL for hemoglobin, 24379/mm3 for platelets, and 1.6 for International Normalized Ratio (INR). Transfusion was performed in 261 (62.3%) patients due to anemia and 96 (22.9%) due to thrombocytopenia. A positive and significant correlation was found between the frequency of transfusion and the duration of mechanical ventilation (r=0.201, p= 0.042), length of stay in the intensive care unit (r=0.375, p<0.001), and day of death (r=0.421, p= 0.002). When the transfusion frequency was compared with the deceased and non-exited patient groups, it was determined that 9.0 (5.0-14.0) times were transfused to those who died and 1.0 (1.0-2.0) to those who were not. Conclusion: When the frequency of transfusion, duration of stay on mechanical ventilator, length of stay in intensive care unit, and, mortality rate were compared in transfused patients; It has been observed that frequent transfusion is a risk factor for mortality, prolonging the duration of mechanical ventilator stay and, intensive care unit stay in patients.

Keywords: