Blood product protocols for pediatric cardiac surgeries

A chief medical technologist at a Florida hospital reports that their blood product protocols for pediatric cardiac surgeries are under review. They are considering changes in the limitations on the storage duration for red cells and the need to irradiate and/or wash cellular products. Currently, for infants 30 days or less, RBC units must be ten days old or fresher, leukoreduced and washed. For infants older than 30 days, RBC units must be leukoreduced and washed, but not necessarily ten days old or fresher. This protocol was established by their surgeons, to address the needs of patients undergoing pediatric cardiac surgeries. The belief that using washed red cells is now being considered for expansion to aliquots in syringes, as is the concept of universal irradiation. She would like to know what protocols other hospitals employ for their pediatric patients. She would also like to be informed of published evidence to support any specific protocol.

Editors' note: The information in the following previous discussions might be of interest to colleagues in regards to a discussion surrounding the above questions:

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