Transfusion of any blood product is a frequent procedure in Newborn Intensive Care Units (NICU). Vital signs are observed frequently throughout transfusion. However there are a few studies about vital sign monitoring frequency in patients receiving blood products.
In this study we aimed to monitor temperature, arterial tension and heart rate of newborns receiving any type of blood products.
In this prospective study, vital signs on 0, 15.,45., 75.minutes and one hour after transfusion of eritrocyte, fresh frozen plasma and trombocyte were recorded prospectively. If any product is transfused more than once, only the vital signs in the first transfusion of the patient were recorded.
In 2018, 860 newborns were hospitalized and 109 of them received 805 blood products; most of the patients were preterm (n:54/119), postoperative congenital heart disease (n:33/119) and congenital malformations (n:19/119). Vital signs during 209 blood products (111 eritrocyte, 60 FFP and 38 thrombocyte suspension) were recorded. Only there was a statistically significant, but clinically nonsignificant (0.1◦C) increase in body temperature after eritrocyte and FFP one hour after transfusion, (p= 0.033 ve p= 0.018). There were no complication such as rash, urticer, tachycardia, flushing, tremor and hypotension.
Conclusion: Blood products seem safe in newborns. They have no significant effect on vital signs. As monitors are used for monitoring newborns in NICUs, frequent monitoring by nurses may be reduced during transusion.