Frequency of supplemental transfusion performed in full-term and prematurely born newborns in 2012–2016 based on the analysis of the hospital ward medical records

Background. Blood transfusion is a procedure often performed in newborns. The person making the decision on its implementation must be aware that it is a life­saving procedure with many complications arising from it. Objectives. Determination of the frequency of supplemental transfusion in newborns treated in the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy of Chil­ dren and Newborns in University Hospital in Opole in 2012–2016. Ascertaining whether there is a significant relationship between newborn’s age and the number of transfusions. Identification of the most common indications for transfusion. Material and methods. A retrospective analysis of medical records was carried out using modern techniques consisting of quantitative analysis of supplemental transfusions performed in newborns. The research material were data from a transfusion book and an electronic version of the disease history of neonates treated in the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy of Children and Newborns in whom the supplemental transfusion was performed. Results. In the years 2012–2016, supplemental transfusions were performed 581 times in neonates treated in the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy of Children and Newborns. The number of supplemental transfusions performed in premature infants was 416 (72%); 165 transfusions (28%) were carried out in full­term newborns in the same period. The most common indication for supplemental transfusion was anemia (314 transfusions), which accounted for 54%