Despite screening programs, there have been increasing concerns from the mid 1980s about transmission of infectious agents via blood transfusions.OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there has been any change in transfusion practices in extremely low birthweight infants over the past decade in our NICU. METHOD: A retrospective review was undertaken of all red cell transfusions administered to infants with birthweights less than 1000 grams admitted to the NICU during three one year time periods from 1984 - 1995. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Groups were compared using ANOVA and Chi Square analysis. RESULTS: There were 220 infants with birthweights less than 1000 grams admitted during the three time periods. No infants during these time periods received erythropoietin. Data from the 176 infants surviving to discharge is presented below. Although significantly smaller than in previous time periods, infants with birthweights less than 1000 grams were transfused less in 1994 -1995. The proportion of infants who were not exposed to red cell transfusions in the NICU increased dramatically.CONCLUSION: There has been a significant reduction both in infants receiving red cell transfusions and in exposures per infant. We speculate that this is related to an increased awareness of transfusions risks. Despite the more selective use of red blood cell transfusions in these patients there was no increase in respiratory morbidity. Table

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