A new study published in Spine examines the risk factors for blood transfusion in pediatric spinal fusion surgeries.
There were 9,538 pediatric hospitalizations reported in 2009. The study authors examined data using the Kids' Inpatient Database data, univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Here are five things to know:
1. There were 25.1 percent of the hospitalizations associated with blood transfusion.
2. The factors associated with transfusions were:
• Female sex
• Black race
• Hospital length of stay
3. The anterior approach/lumbar segment and posterior approach/lumbar segment compared with the anterior approach/cervical segment were factors associated with blood transfusion.
4. Midlength fusion and long length fusion compared with short length were also associated with transfusion.
5. There were higher transfusion rates among patients with fevers and hematoma. Wound infection was not associated with higher transfusion rates.
"Therapies to reduce blood loss and transfusion requirement are necessary for this pediatric population," concluded the study authors.