Pattern of Blood Transfusion in the Special Care Baby Unit of Benue State University Teaching Hospital in Makurdi North-Central Nigeria

Blood transfusion is a life-saving procedure in which whole blood or parts of blood are introduced into a patient's bloodstream intravenously. The need maybe due to physiological or pathological causes. The objective of this study was to document the pattern and indications for blood transfusion at the Special Care Baby Unit of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi. This study was a retrospective review of 126 neonates who received blood transfusion at the Special care baby unit of BSUTH from 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2019. Data was retrieved from patient's medical records and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23. A total of 1142 neonates were admitted over the study period and 126 had blood transfusion giving a prevalence of 11.0%. Male/Female ratio of 1.57:1.Mean (±SD) Birth weight and gestational age (GA) were 2.23±0.82Kg and 35.48 ±3.95 weeks respectively. Exchange blood transfusion was the most frequent 53(42.1%) type of blood transfusion. The most common indications for blood transfusion were anaemia of prematurity, sepsis and severe neonatal jaundice. A hundred and twelve (88.9%) who received transfusion were discharged while 4(3.2%) died. The rate of blood transfusion was low, while severe neonatal jaundice and anaemia were the main indications for blood transfusion in this study. Exchange blood transfusion was the main type of transfusion.

Recommendations for All-Round Newborns and Infants Hearing Screening in Russian Federation

Background. Nowadays there is a need to revise the Russian list of risk factors of hearing loss and deafness based on their study according to the evidence-based medicine and the analysis of the audiology service capabilities. Moreover, audiologic screening system for newborns and infants should be revised in every region to identify the reasons of mismatch with international standards and to find ways of its efficacy improvement. Objective. The aim of the study is to increase the efficacy of Russian program of all-round newborns and infants hearing screening. Methods. This study consisted of two parts. 1) The first stage of audiological screening audit on the example of 78 medical institutions in Saint-Petersburg. The availability and correct function of hearing research equipment, specialists’ qualifications, study technique and conditions, documents and results transmitting accuracy were estimated. 2) Updating the list of risk factors of hearing loss. The prevalence rate of these factors in Russian population according to the literature and official statistics was studied. Evaluation of predictive significance of risk factors was based on retrospective data in the cohort of 393 children born in 2012 (280 with hearing loss, 113 healthy) examined in National Research Centre for Audiology and Hearing Rehabilitation at the age of 0–4 years. Results. The first stage of audiological screening audit has shown that only 14% of included institutions fully meet the criteria of its effective implementation. The following problems were revealed: purchase and renewal of equipment, its timely adjustment, ensuring the continuity of screening stages, specialists training, compliance with methodology and study conditions, results documentation. We were able to increase by 8.5% (close to targeted indicator) the coverage of newborns with first stage of audiological screening as well as to increase the rate of children at the diagnostic stage from 33% to 51%, due to the results of this audit and methodological assistance to the institutions. According to the analysis of prognostic significance and prevalence of risk factors of hearing loss and deafness in Russian population of newborns, it is necessary to perform full hearing examination regardless of the results of newborns and infants hearing screening with the following risk factors: 1) cases of persistent child hearing loss in the family; 2) syndromes associated with hearing loss; 3) auricle, ear canal and dentofacial anomalies; 4) congenital infection (cytomegalovirus, rubella, syphilis, toxoplasmosis); 5) stay in newborns intensive care unit for more than 2 days; 6) prematurity of 32 weeks or less; birth weight less than 1500 g; 7) hyperbilirubinemia in perinatal period (exchange blood transfusion; total bilirubin level when exchange blood transfusion is needed); 8) usage of ototoxic drugs; 9) severe perinatal damage to the central nervous system, neurodegenerative diseases; 10) ambiguous reaction to sounds, developmental delay. Conclusion. Maintenance of all-round newborns hearing screening algorithm will allow us to avoid the diagnosis delay, to start the rehabilitation earlier and further to significantly increase the efficacy of modern high-tech methods for correcting hearing disorders in children. We have to check the presence of risk factors of hearing loss and deafness in every child. Timely referral of children with risk factors for the second stage of audiological screening, diagnosis and correction of hearing disorders creates conditions for normal child oral-aural development.

Exchange blood transfusion in neonates with severe hyperbilirubinemia in a lower-middle-income country: can we minimise the incidence?

Our descriptive study examines the clinical profile of referred neonates who underwent exchange blood transfusion (EBT) and identifies possible interventions at peripheral hospitals to decrease their severe hyperbilirubinemia. Among the 38 neonates enrolled, the following were identified as potential clinical gaps in management: early discharge within 24 h of birth (57%); non-availability of ABORh blood grouping (43%); lack of anti-D immunoprophylaxis (75%); pathological weight loss because of inadequate breastfeeding (42%); and low usage of phototherapy. Because of late recognition, the mean age at admission was 5.4 ± 3.3 days, levels of total serum bilirubin (TSB) were 516.4 ± 123.1 µmol/L, and acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE) was seen in 45% of neonates. Rh iso-immunisation (39.5%), ABO iso-immunisation (21%) and sepsis (8%) were major risk factors for severe hyperbilirubinaemia. Quality prenatal screening identifying at-risk newborns, preventing early discharge after birth, a bilirubin nomogram risk assignment before discharge and assuring early recognition of hyperbiliubinaemia by parents may well minimise the incidence of EBT.

Comparing Efficacy of Low Dose Cytoreduction and Manual Exchange Blood Transfusion in Managing Hyperleukocytosis: A Case Report

Objectives Hyperleukocytosis is defined as white cell count greater than 100,000 cells/mm3. Symptomatic hyperleukocytosis (leukostasis) is a medical emergency and can complicate hematological malignancies. It is commoner in myeloid leukemia but can occur in extremely high-count lymphoid leukemia causing tumor lysis syndrome and death. Immediate management is hydration, cytoreduction, and leukapheresis. In a developing country without leukapheresis, how effective is manual exchange blood transfusion compared to low-dose cytoreduction? We present a case of chronic lymphocytic leukemia with severe hyperleukocytosis, comparing response to different treatment modalities in the absence of leukapheresis. Case Summary A 57-year-old woman with complaints of a vaginal protrusion and an incidental finding of a splenomegaly with moderate anemia. Hemogram showed a white cell count of 301,000 cells/mm3, and blood film revealed a chronic lymphocytic leukemia. She had two cycles of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone and presented 8 months later with worsening leukocytosis of 697,000 cells/mm3, severe anemia, dizziness, headaches, fatigue, and hyperkalemia. Two manual exchange blood transfusions insignificantly decreased count by 40,000 cells/mm3 with slight reduction of hyperkalemia. She had low-dose cytoreduction with weekly vincristine and prednisolone. White cell count reduced from 653,000 cells/mm3 to 467,000 cells/mm3 with normal electrolytes. She was then commenced on cyclophosphamide, mini-hydroxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone. There was a steady decline in counts with improvement in hematological parameters and overall well-being. Conclusion Due to nonavailability of leukapheresis, we attempted a manual exchange without a significant decrease in white cell count. However, with low-dose cytoreduction, there was a considerable decrease in white blood cell count and improvement of electrolyte with no tumor lysis syndrome, and it was more affordable. Therefore, in a resource-poor setting, using low-dose cytoreduction might be cheaper, safer, and more effective than exchange blood transfusion in managing hyperleukocytosis.