The researchers examined data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program pediatric database from 2012 to 2013. There were 1,691 patients included in the study. The researchers found:
1. Risk factors included:
• Male sex
• Esophageal disease
• Gastrointestinal disease
• Cardiac risk factors
• Preoperative inotrope requirement
2. Patients who underwent procedures lasting 300 minutes or more were at higher risk of needing a blood transfusion.
3. The patients with posterior arthrodesis of 13 or more vertebral segments were more likely to need a blood transfusion.
4. Blood transfusion volumes of 20 mL/kg or more were independently associated with more total complications.
5. The complication rate was 5.9 percent.
“Although transfusion in general is not associated with 30-day adverse events, a volume of 20 mL/kg was associated with higher complication rates.
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