Predeposited autologous blood transfusion for surgery in infants and children

Use of autologous umbilical cord blood transfusion in neonates undergoing surgical correction of congenital cardiac defects: A pilot study

Background

Blood transfusion requirement during neonatal open heart surgeries is universal. Homologous blood transfusion (HBT) in pediatric cardiac surgery is used most commonly for priming of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) system and for postoperative transfusion. To avoid the risks associated with HBT in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery, use of autologous umbilical cord blood (AUCB) transfusion has been described. We present our experience with the use of AUCB for neonatal cardiac surgery.

Designs and Methods

Consecutive neonates scheduled to undergo cardiac surgery for various cardiac diseases who had a prenatal diagnosis made on the basis of a fetal echocardiography were included in this prospective observational study. After a vaginal delivery or a cesarean section, UCB was collected from the placenta in a 150-mL bag containing 5 mL of citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine-1 solution. The collected bag with 70-75 mL cord blood was stored at 2°C-6°C and tested for blood grouping and infections after proper labeling. The neonate's autologous cord blood was used for postcardiac surgery blood transfusion to replace postoperative blood loss.

Results

AUCB has been used so far at our institute in 10 neonates undergoing cardiac surgery. The donor exposure in age and type of cardiac surgery-matched controls showed that the neonates not receiving autologous cord blood had a donor exposure to 5 donors (2 packed red blood cells [PRBCs], including 1 for CPB prime and 1 for postoperative loss, 1 fresh frozen plasma, 1 cryoprecipitate, and 1 platelet concentrate) compared to 1 donor for the AUCB neonate (1 PRBC for the CPB prime). Postoperative blood loss was similar in both the groups of matched controls and study group. Values of hemoglobin, total leukocyte count, platelet counts, and blood gas parameters were also similar.

Conclusions

Use of AUCB for replacement of postoperative blood loss after neonatal cardiac surgery is feasible and reduces donor exposure to the neonate. Its use, however, requires a prenatal diagnosis of a cardiac defect by fetal echo and adequate logistic and psychological support from involved clinicians and the blood bank.

Blood component therapy

The blood component support in pediatric patients is more challenging as compared to adult patients, as such, a thorough understanding of various blood components and indications for each is critical when making the decision for transfusion. Transfusion needs in pediatric group parallel the changes that accompany the transitions from fetus to neonate, neonate to infant, and throughout childhood. Modified or unmodified blood components viz. red blood cells, platelets, granulocytes, fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate are required for transfusion support in pediatric population. In general, fetuses and infants younger than 4 months of age have specialized transfusion requirements whereas transfusion of infants older than 4 months and children parallels those for adults. Transfusion practices differ widely among pediatric care units depending upon individual preferences, hospital transfusion policy and resource availability. There is a need to implement best transfusion practices and despite the lack of firm evidences, existing pediatric transfusion guidelines can help pediatric care providers in their decisions related to component transfusion.

Nineteen years of experience with autotransfusion for elective surgery in children: more troublesome than we expected

BACKGROUND

Under the rationale that children undergoing elective surgery are the best candidates for autologous blood donors because of their long life expectancy, aggressive donations of autologous blood, even from infants, have been reported. A number of problems are associated with the procedure, however, whereas the risks of homologous blood are very low.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

From 1987 through 2005, of 5792 patients referred to blood transfusion services at two Japanese university hospitals for autologous blood donations, 314 children younger than 16 years old served as subjects for assessment.

RESULTS

Of 314 children, 7 were not suitable as autologous donors. In most cases this was due to uncooperative behavior. Over a follow-up period of 19 years, the authors encountered 53 cases (17.3%) of donation-related problems, and this rate was higher than the 6 percent rate recorded for adult cases (316/5305). Nine children suffered crucial complications such as vasovagal reactions, and one 14-year-old boy required a vasopressor drug. Important findings were that 6 of these were first-time donors, and the amount of blood drawn was under 10 percent of their estimated blood volume.

CONCLUSION

Of 53 donation-related problems, 9 (17.0%) were accompanied by marked hypotension. Drawing autologous blood from children has become easier with advanced devices; however, lessening of anxiety and tension are essential for the safety of children's autologous blood donation programs. Aggressive donation should be avoided.

Pre-operative predeposit autologous donation in children presenting for elective surgery: a review

Predeposit Autologous blood donation (PAD) in children decreases the life-time complications associated with allogeneic blood. These complications include transmission of known or unknown pathogens and alloimmunization against future blood transfusions, organ transplants and pregnancies. In view of the potential long term benefits of PAD should it be considered a component of paediatric blood conservation programs. This paper reviews the literature to explore the risk of benefit analysis of adopting PAD in paediatric practice.

The efficacy of autologous cord-blood transfusions in neonatal surgical patients

PURPOSE

Allogenic blood transfusions have a risk of infection owing to unknown organisms, graft-versus-host reaction, and immunosupression; however, the use of autologous blood has been reported to be safe. Cord blood has been reported to be useful as a source of stem cell transplantation for the treatment of leukemia and genetic disease. Furthermore, autologous cord-blood transfusions (ACBT) have been reported to be effective for the treatment of anemia in premature infants. The authors examined the efficacy of ACBT in neonatal surgical patients.

METHODS

Autologous cord-blood was stored from 12 infants at delivery, including 2 transvaginal and 10 cesarean section deliveries, from 1998 to 2001. All infants had surgically correctable malformations diagnosed antenatally. The mean gestational age was 37.2 +/- 1.6 weeks, and the birth weight was 2,597 +/- 1.6 g. The results of the blood count, serum electrolyte, and liver function tests of the patients who underwent ACBT only (group 1, n = 7) were compared with those of the 7 neonates who underwent an allogenic transfusion during the same period (group 2, n = 7).

RESULTS

The mean volume of the stored blood was 64 +/- 35.6 g (range, 20 to 100). Eleven of the 12 patients underwent transfusions. Ten of 11 patients received autologous cord blood. A mean of 44.1 +/- 37.3 g of cord blood was used. Three of 10 cases also required an allotransfusion because of ECMO circuit preparation and a shortage of the stored blood. One patient underwent allotransfusion only. As a result, 7 of 11 babies (64%) who required transfusion were able to avoid an allotransfusion. The blood potassium levels were lower in group 1 than in group 2. No significant complications were recognized clinically.

CONCLUSIONS

ACBT is considered beneficial because it enables neonatal surgical patients to avoid allotransfusions. Therefore, autologous cord-blood storage should be considered in the patients antenatally diagnosed to have surgical malformations. However, the storage volume varies for each case. Improved techniques to obtain an adequate amount of blood also should be developed.

Usefulness of cord-blood harvesting for autologous transfusion in surgical newborns with antenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The risks of homologous transfusion and the effectiveness of predeposit autologous transfusion have been described. The authors examined the clinical usefulness of cord-blood harvesting for autologous transfusion in newborns who had congenital anomalies antenatally diagnosed that would require surgical intervention at or near the time of delivery.

METHODS

Of 112 cases of antenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies, 50 mothers gave informed consent and enrolled in this study. Cord-blood was withdrawn immediately after clamping of the umbilical cord and was used for autologous transfusion in newborns within the first 3 days postpartum.

RESULTS

A mean of 72 +/- 54 mL of cord-blood was harvested (27 +/- 18 mL/kg). While preserving cord-blood for 3 days at 4 degrees C, no signs of clot formation or hemolysis were observed. The harvested cord-blood included plasma-free Hb ranging from 1 to 68 (13 +/- 18) mg/dL and thrombin-antithrombin III complex ranging from 2 to 273 (18 +/- 50) ng/mL. Bacteriologic examination of the stored cord-blood showed negative cultures, except for samples from 3 newborns after vaginal delivery. A mean of 46 +/- 34 mL of cord-blood was used in 26 patients for autologous transfusion. No significant complications related to cord-blood transfusion were recognized clinically.

CONCLUSIONS

Autologous cord-blood transfusion has the potential to be a useful alternative to homologous transfusion in newborns requiring surgery. Adequate collection and storage techniques for cord-blood must be developed. J Pediatr Surg 36:851-854.

Perioperative autologous blood donation in children

Autologous blood donation in children has become a standard of care. Children have to live with the life-time complications associated with allogeneic blood including the transmission of known and unknown pathogens, and the impact of alloimmunization on future blood transfusions, organ transplants and pregnancies. Donor reaction, allogeneic exposure and utilization rates in pediatric preoperative autologous donation (PAD) programs are as good if not better than reported in adult literature. Children are very resilient when undergoing extreme isovolemic hemodilution (IHD). PAD, IHD and intraoperative blood recovery appear to be useful components of a pediatric blood conservation program. Prospective, randomized studies addressing the specific needs of children are required to properly define their perioperative role.

Pediatric transfusion therapy: practical considerations

Over the past decade, safety of blood has increased tremendously because of better donor screening as well as testing of the units for transmissible diseases. Component therapy has allowed more effective and economic use of blood. Whole blood is rarely used; instead, packed red cells, platelets, and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) are the most common components used. These products are further refined using irradiation and microaggregate filters and in the case of FFP, viral inactivation. Irradiation prevents transfusion-associated graft versus host disease, whereas microaggregate filters remove leukocytes, decreasing the rates of alloimmunization, febrile nonhemolytic (FNH) reactions, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission. Autologous donation in older children probably provides the safest blood as far as transmissible diseases are concerned. More families request a directed donation and solicit physician help in deciding as well as making arrangements for autologous and/or directed donations. Transfusions of blood and blood components in children are often challenging and require a knowledge of physiologic changes in hemoglobin and blood volumes during different ages. The unique needs of neonates, immunocompromised patients, and patients with congenital hemolytic anemia (sickle cell, thalassemia) mandate that the pediatrician have an appropriate knowledge of transfusion volumes and choice of blood product as well as indications for transfusion.

Hematuria associated with low-volume cell saver in pediatric orthopaedics

A low-volume autotransfusion device, Haemocell System 350, was used for four consecutive pediatric orthopaedic patients. Although the initial patient evidenced no hematuria, transient hematuria was noted in three consecutive patients. Follow-up blood urea nitrogen, electrolytes, and creatinine levels were all within normal limits. After discontinuation of the device, no further hematuria has occurred in subsequent patients. Although intraoperative low-volume cell savers may have a role in pediatric orthopaedic surgery associated with low total blood volume loss, we observed three cases of postoperative hematuria by using this device in cases with large total blood volume loss [>28% estimated blood volume (EBV)]. Although all of these cases were transitory, we recommend caution in the use of low-volume intraoperative blood-salvage devices in pediatrics at this time.