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Changes in regional tissue oxygenation saturation and desaturations after red blood cell transfusion in preterm infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 33, pages 282–287 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

The study investigated the ability of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to detect subgroups of preterm infants who benefit most from red blood cell (RBC) transfusion in regard to cerebral/renal tissue oxygenation (i) and the number of general oxygen desaturation below 80% (SaO2 <80%) (ii).

Study Design:

Cerebral regional (crSO2) and peripheral regional (prSO2) NIRS parameters were recorded before, during, immediately after and 24 h after transfusion in 76 infants. Simultaneously, SaO2 <80% were recorded by pulse oximetry. To answer the basic question of the study, all preterm infants were divided into two subgroups according to their pretransfusion crSO2 values (<55% and ⩾55%). This cutoff was determined by a k-means clustering analysis.

Result:

crSO2 and prSO2 increased significantly in the whole study population. A stronger increase (P<0.0005) of both was found in the subgroup with pretransfusion crSO2 values <55%. Regarding the whole population, a significant decrease (P<0.05) of episodes with SaO2 <80% was observed. The subgroup with crSO2 baselines <55% had significant (P<0.05) more episodes with SaO2 <80% before transfusion. During and after transfusion, the frequency of episodes with SaO2 <80% decreased more in this group compared with the group with crSO2 baselines ⩾55%.

Conclusion:

NIRS measurement is a simple, non-invasive method to monitor regional tissue oxygenation and the efficacy of RBC transfusion. Infants with low initial NIRS values benefited most from blood transfusions regarding SaO2 <80%, which may be important for their general outcome.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, University of Leipzig, Children’s Hospital, Leipzig, Germany

    D Seidel, A Bläser, C Gebauer, F Pulzer, U Thome & M Knüpfer

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  1. D Seidel
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Correspondence to M Knüpfer.

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Seidel, D., Bläser, A., Gebauer, C. et al. Changes in regional tissue oxygenation saturation and desaturations after red blood cell transfusion in preterm infants. J Perinatol 33, 282–287 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.108

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