Effect ofbloodtransfusion oncardiorespirator y abnormalities inpreterm infants

Theeffects ofredbloodcelil transfusion on theincidences ofapnoea,bradycardia, tachycardia andoxygendesaturation over periods of72hoursbefore andafter transfusion wereassessed in25infants witha gestational ageof-32weeks(mean(SEM) 29*2(0.4) weeks,birthweight 1170(73)g; postnatal ageattransfusion 39(4)days). Duringtransfusion haemoglobinrose from78(2)g/lto117(2)g/l. Significant decreases wereobserved indaily frequenciesofapnoeaslongerthan15seconds (medianfrom2*7to0*9eventsa day), tachycardias ofmorethan200beatsper minute(from34to25eventsperday), bradycardias below100beatsperminute (from65to12events perday)and80beats perminute(from8*4to3*3eventsper day). Oxygensaturation improved in20of theinfants. Transfusion improves cardiorespiration inpreterminfants forseveral days. (Arch DisChild 1995; 72:F194-F196)