Skip to main content
. 2022 Apr 15;22:211. doi: 10.1186/s12887-022-03276-4

Table 3.

The treatment protocol and laboratory test of infants with or without red blood cell transfusion post diagnosis of NEC

Variables Red Blood Cell Transfusion post NEC diagnosis
With (n = 60) Without (n = 182) P
Albumin transfusion, %(n) 68.3 (41) 29.7 (54) 0.000
Transfusion prior to NEC diagnosis, %(n) 16.7 (10) 2.7 (5) 0.000
Fresh frozen plasma transfusion post NEC diagnosis, %(n) 25.0 (15) 2.2 (4) 0.000
Platelet transfusion post NEC diagnosis, %(n) 11.7 (7) 1.6 (3) 0.003
Cryoprecipitate transfusion post NEC diagnosis, %(n) 16.7 (10) 4.4 (8) 0.004
Intravenous immunoglobulin, %(n) 15.0 (9) 3.8 (7) 0.007
Probiotics use, %(n) 48.3 (29) 50.5 (92) 0.766
Anaerobic antimicrobial therapy, %(n) 90.0 (54) 62.6 (114) 0.000
Vasoactive agents support, %(n) 41.7 (25) 17.0 (31) 0.000
Mechanical ventilation, %(n) 6.7(4) 0(0) 0.001
Broad spectrum antibiotics use [days, median (IQR)] 18 (12–24) 12 (9–16) 0.000
Cessation of enteral feeding [days, median (IQR)] 8.5 (6–13.75) 7 (4–9) 0.000
Gastrointestinal decompression [days, median (IQR)] 6 (1.25–9) 1 (0–4.25) 0.000
WBC counta < 5 × 109/L or > 20 × 109/L, %(n) 20.0 (12) 15.9 (29) 0.467
Platelet counta < 100 × 109/L, %(n) 11.7 (7) 7.7 (14) 0.343
CRPa > 8 mg/L, %(n) 46.7 (28) 27.5 (50) 0.006
Lowest Hct b (%, mean ± SD) 25.8 ± 4.1 35.1 ± 6.4 0.000

aThe baseline values were tested within 24 h of NEC diagnosis

bThe Lowest Hct post NEC diagnosis and prior NEC deterioration

WBC White blood cell, CRP C-reactive protein, NEC Necrotizing enterocolitis, Hct Hematocrit, SD Standard deviation, IQR Interquartile range