Effect of preoperative anemia on perioperative red blood cell transfusion and prognosis in children with septal defect

Abstract

Objective To analyze the impact of preoperative anemia on perioperative red blood cell transfusion and prognosis of children undergoing septal defect repair. Methods The medical records of 208 patients under 18 years old with septal defect, i. e. ventricular septal, atrial septal, ventricular septal with atrial septal defect, in a hospital from December 2018 to March 2022 were collected. They were divided into anemic group (n=52) and non-anemic group (n=156) according to whether they were anemic before operation. The basic information, as well as preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion, postoperative ICU stay, postoperative infection rate and average length of stay were compared between the two groups. Results The incidence of preoperative anemia in the children with septal defect was 25.0% (52/208). The age, preoperative body weight(kg) and hemoglobin (g/L) of anemic group and non-anemic group was 0.67(0.33, 2) vs 2(1, 3), 6.5(5, 10) vs10.5(8, 14) and 102(91.5, 107) vs 127(121, 134) respectively, all P<0.05. Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion rates in the anemic and non-anemic groups were 11.54% (6/52) vs 0% (0/156), 92.31% (48/52) vs 72.44% (113/156), 51.92% (27/52) vs 25.0% (39/156), all P<0.05. Postoperative ICU stay (d) and mean length of stay(d) of anemia group and non-anemia group was 3 (2, 6) vs 2 (2, 3) and 19(13, 25) vs14(11, 18) respectively, P<0.05. Conclusion Preoperative anemia is an important factor affecting perioperative red blood cell transfusion in children with septal defect repair, and also an important reason for prolonging postoperative ICU stay and hospital stay.

Keywords

• preoperative anemia
• septal defect
• perioperative period
• transfusion effect
• patient blood management