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Background Packed Red Blood Cell (PRBC) transfusions are often administered to patients in the neonatal intensive care unit. Aims The purpose of this study was to determine whether current blood transfusion clinical practice guidelines are as useful as clinical judgement in identifying patients in need of a PRBC transfusion. Methods The study is a post-transfusion survey on premature newborns less than 32 weeks old that received a PRBC transfusion. These patients were divided into three groups, based on the criteria used for transfusion: (a) clinical practice guidelines; (b) clinical judgement/symptoms of need for PRBC transfusion; or (c) both. These three groups were further subdivided based on clinical response to transfusion. Demographic data and clinical variables were compared among the groups. 35 preterm infants who received transfusions were identified. Thirteen patients (37%) were transfused based on guidelines, 4 (11%) based on clinical judgement, and 18 (52%) based on both. Results Neonates transfused based on guidelines alone were more likely to have received the transfusion in the first week of life, had a lower pre-transfusion hematocrit, were less symptomatic and had a higher likelihood of requiring mechanical ventilation. Neonates transfused based on clinical judgement were more likely to be on noninvasive ventilatory support and were more symptomatic. Neonates who improved after a transfusion had a lower pretransfusion hematocrit (p=0.03), were more symptomatic (p=0.01) and were more likely to be on non-invasive ventilatory support (p=0.02) when compared to the group without clinical improvement. The group without improvement had an increase in oxygen requirement (+3.8±2.4) after the transfusion (p=0.0004). Conclusion Guidelines on when to transfuse stable growing premature newborns with PRBC should be reevaluated to include more clinical judgement and perhaps be more restrictive for critically ill neonates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anemia in the newborn can result from bleeding, hemolysis and deficiency in red blood cell production. Anemia at birth is mainly due to bleeding and immune hemolysis. Anemia blood loss can occur through obstetrical accidents, occult blood loss and internal bleeding. A retrospective study conducted in 236 anemic infants in the early neonatal period, hospitalized for neonatal anemia between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2012 in "Bega" Clinic of Neonatology in Timisoara, identified an accumulation of significant risk factors influencing prognosis and treatment. Among infants with neonatal anemia, a total of 147 were premature. The most common cause of hemolytic anemia was the blood group incompatibility between mother and fetus, the prevalence being 9.55%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The aim of this study was to correlate the mother's biological status and related extrinsic factors during pregnancy and growth retardation and anemia in neonates. Material and method. We have done a prospective study on 75 mothers who delivered in 2013 in Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of Emergency County Hospital Timisoara and their newborns. Maternal extrinsec factors pre- or during pregnancy were related with the percentage distribution of neonates with IUGR and anemia. Results. Smoking habits (53%), lack of education (44%) and precarious socioeconomic conditions (42.7%) were the first three extrinsec factors well represented. The percentage distribution of newborns was 43% AGA, 32% with IUGR and 25% with IUGR and anemia. The overall percentage of newborns with IUGR is 57%. Conclusions. Extrinsec factors present pre- and during pregnancy influence the increase of neonates with IUGR inself or IUGR and anemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]