1. Abnormal Splanchnic Regional Saturations in a Preterm Infant That Developed Necrotizing Enterocolitis Following a Red Blood Cell Transfusion
- Author
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Katherine Braski, Mariana Baserga, and Brixen Reich
- Subjects
Spectrophotometry, Infrared ,Anemia ,Red Blood Cell Transfusion ,Hematocrit ,Enteral administration ,Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ,medicine ,Humans ,Splanchnic Circulation ,Monitoring, Physiologic ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,Infant, Newborn ,General Medicine ,Abdominal distension ,medicine.disease ,Respiration, Artificial ,Anti-Bacterial Agents ,Oxygen ,Bloody ,Treatment Outcome ,Anesthesia ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,Necrotizing enterocolitis ,Premature Birth ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,Erythrocyte Transfusion ,Splanchnic ,business - Abstract
Background Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) has been associated with red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in preterm infants. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can be used to noninvasively monitor regional oxygen saturations (rSO2). Clinical findings This former 28-week female premature infant, 29 days old, received an RBC transfusion due to increased apneic spells and a hematocrit of 27%. Within 24 hours she developed abdominal distension and passed a bloody stool (Bell's stage 2 NEC on abdominal x-ray). She completed 7 days of antibiotics and nothing-by-mouth status and was discharged home on room air and oral feedings on day of life 70. Primary diagnosis We describe the presentation of NEC following a RBC transfusion in a preterm infant monitored with cerebral and splanchnic NIRS. Interventions Mean rSO2 (cerebral and splanchnic) measurements were continuously recorded and calculated in 30-minute periods at baseline (prior to packed RBC transfusion), every hour during the RBC transfusion, and every 3 hours for the following 48 hours. Outcomes In this infant, average baseline splanchnic rSO2 was low at 46.5%, and increased during transfusion to 65%. However, following the RBC transfusion and an enteral feeding, splanchnic rSO2 dramatically decreased to 26%, and remained low until the time of NEC diagnosis. Practice recommendations To develop awareness of the increased risk for NEC in premature infants with significant anemia that receive packed RBC transfusions. With further studies and education, NIRS could be a valuable tool for the nurses and medical team to identify these at-risk neonates.
- Published
- 2020