Warmed Blood Transfusion in Premature Infants

May 21, 2024 updated by: Sibel Sevuk Ozumut, Goztepe Prof Dr Suleyman Yalcın City Hospital

Warmed Blood Transfusion in Premature Babies Less Than 34 Weeks of Gestational Age: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Premature babies have to deal with many problems from the moment they are born due to the immature of their organs. Their clinical condition is unstable, especially in the first few weeks, and they are greatly affected by environmental factors. During this period, blood transfusion may be needed for many reasons such as intraventricular hemorrhage and necrotizing enterocolitis. In addition, multiple blood draws to evaluate irregular metabolic, hematological and biochemical findings result in anemia and the need for blood transfusion. There are many algorithms regarding blood transfusion indications and transfusion limits in premature babies. However, there are no strict rules regarding the application of warming before blood transfusion, but it is recommended by some guidelines. Especially in unstable babies such as advanced premature babies, it is recommended to give blood by heating it at physiological temperature to avoid important complications such as hypothermia, coagulopathy and rhythm disturbances. Premature babies, whose hemodynamic and metabolic balance is very sensitive, may go into hypothermia when blood and products stored at +4C⁰ are given without heating. In routine practice, blood transfusion is performed without heating. The concern here is that hemolysis may develop by heating the blood. Studies have shown that hemolysis occurs when blood is heated above 46C⁰. In this study, physiological heating is planned. In vitro neonatal experimental modeling has shown that there is no hemolysis with physiological heating.

The aim of the researchers is; While protecting fragile, extremely premature babies from the complications of cold transfusion, the aim is to compare the transfusion groups with and without physiological heating in terms of hemolysis, metabolic balance and cerebral tissue oxygenation.

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This trial is planned to be randomized and controlled. Erythrocyte transfusion (ET) will be applied to premature babies born below the 34th gestational week, based on the limit values specified by TND, during Level 3 routine intensive care treatment and follow-up. They will be divided into two groups of 20 babies each: control and study groups. The control group will receive erythrocyte transfusion without heating, which is routinely applied. Heated ET will be performed on the study group by physiological warming between 34-36C⁰.

Procedures to be applied for the working group:

  1. ET requirement will be determined in line with the TND guide. It will be transfused at a standard dose of 20 ml/kg. Before ET is performed, blood gas and HTC, K and blood temperature before entering the heater will be measured and recorded.
  2. The erythrocyte suspension will be heated between 34-36 C⁰, which is the determined physiological temperature.
  3. Before giving it to the baby, 2 ml of blood will be taken through a triple tap and its hematocrit and K value (blood gas) will be checked. It will be given to the baby after the temperature is checked with a body fluid thermometer and determined to be within the appropriate range and if hemolysis is not observed.
  4. At the end of the standard transfusion period of 3 hours, all babies will be routinely checked for blood gases, HTC and K.

As standard for all babies during transfusion; Heart rate, blood pressure, saturation and body temperatures will be monitored.

It was planned to investigate whether there was a difference in terms of hypothermia and hemolysis between the groups with and without Physiological Heating. It will be examined whether heated blood has an effect on cerebral tissue perfusion by NIRS monitoring

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

50

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • N/A (n/a)
      • Istanbul, N/A (n/a), Turkey, 34730
        • Goztepe Prof Dr. Suleyman Yalcın City Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Premature babies less than 34 weeks of gestation Babies requiring ES transfusions while receiving treatment in the NICU

Exclusion Criteria:

  • babies with severe congenital anomalies

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Blood Transfusion
It was planned to transfuse the blood at +4C temperature brought from the blood bank center in 3 hours. At the end of the standard transfusion period of 3 hours, all babies will be routinely checked for blood gases, HTC and K.
Experimental: Blood transfusıon
Blood will be warmed before transfusion. At the end of the standard transfusion period of 3 hours, all babies will be routinely checked for blood gases, HTC and K.

The erythrocyte suspension will be heated between 34-36 C⁰, which is the determined physiological temperature.

Before giving it to the baby, 2 ml of blood will be taken through a triple tap and its hematocrit and K value (blood gas) will be checked. It will be given to the baby after the temperature is checked with a body fluid thermometer and determined to be within the appropriate range and if hemolysis is not observed.

At the end of the standard transfusion period of 3 hours, all babies will be routinely checked for blood gases, HTC and K.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Effect of heated blood transfusion on body temperature in premature babies
Time Frame: 6 hours
The baby's body temperature will be measured and recorded before, during and after heated and unheated blood transfusions. It will be determined whether transfusion of unwarmed blood causes lower body temperature.
6 hours
Effects of warming blood in blood transfusion on cerebral tissue oxygenation
Time Frame: 8 hours
Cerebral tissue oxygenation will be measured with Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitoring in both transfusion applications. The data recorded on the NIRS device will be transferred to the computer and compared. The effect of warming the blood on cerebral tissue oxygenation will be demonstrated.
8 hours
Effect of heated and unheated blood transfusion on hematocrit level
Time Frame: 8 hours
After the heated and unheated blood transfusion ends, the hematocrit levels of the babies will be compared to determine which model is more effective.
8 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Effect of warming blood on potassium level
Time Frame: 6 hours
After the blood is brought to physiological body temperature, a sample will be taken before giving it to the baby. The presence of hemolysis will be evaluated by measuring the potassium level in blood heated at 34-36 C. At the end of the blood transfusion, potassium will be measured in the blood taken from the baby.
6 hours
Effect of warming blood on LDH level
Time Frame: 6 hours
After blood transfusion, LDH will be measured by taking blood samples from the babies in both groups. A measurement of LDH above 700 will be defined as hemolysis.
6 hours
Effect of heated blood on blood lactate level
Time Frame: 8 hours
At the end of heated and unheated blood transfusion, blood gas and blood lactate levels will be measured. It will be compared which transfusion application increases the lactate level more.
8 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Fahri Ovalı, Prof, Istanbul Medeniyet University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2024

Study Completion (Estimated)

March 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 8, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 21, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 21, 2024

Last Verified

May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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