Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2011 Feb 14.
Published in final edited form as: J Pediatr. 2009 Sep;155(3):331–37.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.02.026

Table I.

Transfusion guidelines.

2006 guidelines* Revised guidelines
Transfuse for:

  1. HCT <35% if requiring >35% inspired O2 on CPAP, or positive pressure ventilation with mean airway pressure >6 cmH2O

  2. HCT <30% if requiring <35% inspired O2, on CPAP, or positive pressure ventilation with mean airway pressure <6 cmH2O, significant apnea and bradycardia, tachycardia (>180 bpm) or respiratory rate >80/min, weight gain <10 grams/day over 4 days, or if septic;

  3. HCT <20%;

 Transfuse for:

  1. HCT < 35% if it is the patient’s 1st week of life AND the patient is unstable†

  2. HCT < 28% if it is the patient’s 1st week of life OR the patient is unstable†

  3. HCT < 20% if the patient is >1 week old AND stable

  • Prolonged oxygen desaturation episodes

    Hypotension requiring treatment
*

These guidelines were adapted from Shannon et al26 (with permission).

†

Instability is defined as an increased risk for poor oxygen delivery, for example