A survey on perioperative red blood cell transfusion trigger strategies for pediatric patients in the Nordic countries.

Background: Transfusion of red blood cells (RBC) to rapidly increase hemoglobin levels have been associated with increased risks and worse outcomes in critically ill children. The international TAXI consensus from 2018 (pediatric critical care transfusion and anemia expertise initiative) recommended restrictive RBC transfusion strategies in pediatric patients.

Objective: To elucidate physicians perioperative RBC transfusion trigger strategies for pediatric patients in the Nordic countries and to investigate what factors influence the decision to transfuse this group of patients.

Methods: An electronic web-based survey designed by the TransfUsion triggers in Pediatric perioperAtive Care (TUPAC) initiative including six different clinical scenarios was sent to anesthesiologist treating pediatric patients at university hospitals in the Nordic countries on February 1, 2023 and closed May 1, 2023.

Results: The study had a response rate of 67.7% (180 responders out of 266 contacted). Median hemoglobin thresholds triggering RBC transfusions were 7.0 [IQR, 7.0-7.3] g/dL in a stable young child (1-year-old), 7.0 [IQR, 7.0-7.0] g/dL in the stable older child (5-year-old), 8.5 [IQR, 8.0-9.0] g/dL in the older child with cardiac disease, 9.0 [IQR, 8.0-10.0] g/dL the older child with traumatic brain injury, 8.0 [IQR, 7.3-9.0] g/dL in stabilized older child with septic shock and 8.0 [IQR, 7.0-9.0] g/dL in the older child with active but non-life-threatening bleeding. Apart from specific hemoglobin level, RBC transfusions were mostly triggered by high lactate level (74.2%), increasing heart rate (68.0%), prolonged capillary refill time (48.3%), and lowered blood pressure (47.8%). No statistical difference was found between the Nordic countries, work experience, or enrollment in a pediatric anesthesia fellowship program regarding RBC transfusion strategies.

Conclusions: Anesthesiologists in the Nordic countries report restrictive perioperative RBC transfusion strategies for children that are mostly in agreement with the international TAXI recommendations. However, RBC transfusions strategies were modified to be guided by more liberal trigger levels when pediatric patients presented with severe comorbidity such as severe sepsis, septic shock, and non-life-threatening bleeding.