Assessing Differential Transfusion Requirements for Children with Congenital Malformations vs. Pediatric Acute Abdomen Emergencies

Abstract

Background and Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative blood transfusions in correcting anemia for pediatric patients with congenital malformations (CMs) versus those with acute abdomen (AA) conditions. The study hypothesized that the response to transfusions might vary significantly between these groups due to the differences in the underlying pathology and clinical status. Methods: The study included 107 pediatric patients admitted to Timisoara ‘Louis Turcanu’ Emergency Hospital for Children between January 2015 and May 2023, who required blood transfusions for preoperative anemia. Hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), and red blood cell counts (RBC) were assessed at admission, 48 h post-transfusion, and at discharge. Statistical analyses, including Student’s t-test, Pearson correlation, and chi-square tests, were utilized to compare outcomes between the groups. The study population was divided into 53 children with CM and 54 with AA. Results: Initial analyses showed that children with CM had statistically significantly higher baseline HGB (8.54 ± 1.00 g/dL vs. 7.87 ± 1.02 g/dL, p = 0.001) and HCT (26.07 ± 3.98% vs. 23.95 ± 2.90%, p = 0.002) compared to those with AA. Post-transfusion, children with CM exhibited a greater increase in HGB, with the highest increases noted in patients with central nervous system defects (mean increase of 3.67 g/dL, p = 0.038). In contrast, the increases in HGB for children with AA were less pronounced, with the highest being 2.03 g/dL in those with peritonitis (p = 0.078). Conclusions: No significant gender differences were noted in response to transfusion. Children with congenital malformations respond more effectively to preoperative blood transfusions compared to those with acute abdomen conditions. These findings suggest that differential transfusion strategies may be required based on the underlying medical condition to optimize the management of preoperative anemia in pediatric patients. Tailoring transfusion approaches according to specific patient needs and conditions could enhance clinical outcomes and resource utilization in pediatric surgical settings.