Transfusion Practicein Full-Term Newborn in a West African Teaching Hospital (Abidjan, Cote D'ivoire)

Introduction: In Côte d’Ivoire, blood transfusion remains the main treatment for severe anemia during neonatal period. The current transfusion protocol is to transfuse, within the first 15 days of life, any premature less than 32 weeks old with a hemoglobin level of less than 10 g/dL twice within 12 hours. The data being rare infull-term neonates, our study aimsto analyse transfusion practice, for these newborns, in order to improve professional practice.

Methods and patients: Our study was held over a fourteen months period, from January 2017 to February 2018. All newborns aged more than 37 weeks old, hospitalized at the Yopougon’s teaching hospital, with a hemoglobin level below 13g/dL, were included.

Results: During the study period, 500 newborns were hospitalized, 437 of whom were born full term.Anemia’s prevalence was 17.6% and that of blood transfusion 53.2%. Pallor (p = 0.040957098008) and hemoglobin rate below 10g/dL (p = 1.9431959988505.10-7) were our significant criteria for transfusion.

Conclusion: We recommend blood transfusion in cases of anemia in full-term newbornwith signs of decompensation and ahemoglobin rate of less than 10g/dL. The targethemoglobin rate will be 13g/dL.

Keywords: anemia, full-term newborn, transfusion, Abidjan.