neonatal transfusion policy, PLEASE HELP

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Fellow nurses,

I am in desperate need for a neonatal blood transfusion policy. I have never provided this service and I am able to write one. Can any of you help me? Why recreate the wheel? Please help

Specializes in neonatal.
Oh, and we ONLY use O- blood in girls and O + or - for boys.

Sorry about this question, but there is any cientific reason for this???

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Specializes in NICU.
Sorry about this question, but there is any cientific reason for this???

Well, as I said above, it's not actually the official policy per our online manuals, but the rationale I was given is that it is just a further safeguard against ABO incompatibility issues. If we have it available, why not use it?

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Specializes in Level III NICU.

We T&S as per our hospital policy. I've only given uncrossmatched O- blood once (when I admitted a 27 weeker that was the donor twin in TTTS and his hematocrit was 15). Blood bank is very good to us, and it takes them very little time to process our requests. When blood bank lets us know they have blood available, we send for it. We transfuse 10-15 ml/kg usually over 3 hours. On some occasions, over 2 hours. We draw the blood up in a syringe through a 40 micron filter and run it over a syringe pump. Ideally, we transfuse through PIVs. With micropreemies, sometimes through the UVC if we have a multiple lumen catheter in. If access is an issue, I have transfused through a UAC. We can also transfuse via a Broviac. We won't transfuse through a PICC.

We transfuse CMV negative and leukocyte-reduced PRBCs. Sometimes the docs/NNPs will also order it irradiated.

We do vital signs (temp, HR, RR, BP, O2 sats, check IV site) just prior to starting the transfusion, then at 15 minutes. After that, it's hourly from the start time of the transfusion. Our babies are all on monitors anyway though.

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