Original article / research
Year : 2026 Month : April Volume : 15 Issue : 2 Page : PO26 - PO29 Full Version

Blood Transfusion Practices in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India: A Retrospective Study
Itha Muni Bhavani, Radhika Medidi, Ramya Katta, Dheepthi Shree Venkatesan Jeyasree, Aparna Chinnam, Sreedhar Bora
1. Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Guntur Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. 2. Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Guntur Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. 3. Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Guntur Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. 4. Junior Resident, Department of Pathology, Guntur Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. 5. Professor, Department of Pathology, Guntur Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. 6. Professor and Head, Department of Pathology, Guntur Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
 
Correspondence Address :
Dr. Ramya Katta,
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Guntur Medical College, Kannavari
Thota, Guntur-522004, Andhra Pradesh, India.
E-mail: drkattaramya@gmail.com
 
ABSTRACT
: Introduction: Neonates admitted to intensive care frequently require blood transfusions because of their limited physiological reserves, rapid clinical fluctuations, and multiple sampling needs. Understanding existing transfusion trends is essential to ensure evidence-based and rational use of blood components in this vulnerable group.

Aim: To evaluate blood transfusion practices in the NICU by analysing indications, utilisation patterns, and outcomes of blood component administration.

Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Department of Pathology and associated blood centre at Guntur Medical College and Government General Hospital, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, over one year (August 2024 to July 2025). The study included 190 neonates who received at least one blood component transfusion. Neonates admitted during the same period without any transfusion exposure were excluded. Demographic details, birth weight, gestational age, clinical diagnosis, type and frequency of components transfused, timing of transfusion, and documented indications were obtained from NICU records and blood centre archives. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel 2020 and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0, with categorical variables summarised as frequencies and percentages, and continuous variables as mean±standard deviation.

Results: Out of the 190 neonates, the mean age at first transfusion was 2.5±0.8 days, with 58.9% males. Very low-birth-weight infants constituted the largest subgroup requiring transfusion (87 neonates, 45.8%). Packed red blood cells were the most frequently administered component (158 transfusions, 50.6%). No major transfusion-related adverse events were observed. Inappropriate transfusions accounted for 8.4% of cases.

Conclusion: The findings of the present study highlight a predominant transfusion burden among low birth weight neonates. Continuous monitoring and periodic audit of neonatal transfusion practices help ensure rational and safe use of blood components.
Keywords : Anaemia, Birth weight, Blood components, Coagulation profile, Packed red blood cells, Platelet concentrates
DOI and Others : DOI: 10.7860/NJLM/2026/82109.2970 Date of Submission: Jul 17, 2025 Date of Peer Review: Nov 15, 2025 Date of Acceptance: Feb 24, 2026 Date of Publishing: Apr 01, 2026 AUTHOR DECLARATION: • Financial or Other Competing Interests: None • Was Ethics Committee Approval obtained for this study? Yes • Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? Yes • For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. NA PLAGIARISM CHECKING METHODS: • Plagiarism X-checker: Aug 01, 2025 • Manual Googling: Feb 19, 2025 • iThenticate Software: Feb 23, 2025 (1%) ETYMOLOGY: Author Origin EMENDATIONS: 6
 
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