Transfusions in infants < 1500 grams are used to improve oxygen availability. We were interested in determining the increase in oxygen available (AvO2) between 95% saturation and a tension of 3 kpa (22.5 mm Hg), the increase in Hb, and the change in% fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in infants pre- and post-transfusion. Using these values, we calculated the proportion of the increase in available oxygen attributable to (a) the rise in Hb and (b) the change in p50. Infants for whom transfusions were needed had blood gas and co-oximetry measurements done pre- and post-transfusion. The infants were transfused to an intended hemoglobin of 150 g/L. Transfusions were excluded only if appropriate bloodwork was not done. Each transfusion was considered as a separate event.

The results given as mean (SD) from 32 transfusions in 14 infants were:Table

Table 1
Full size table

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