Red blood cell transfusion in critically ill children is independently associated with increased mortality

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that RBC transfusion in critically ill children is independently associated with increased mortality and morbidity. DESIGN: Retrospective, descriptive epidemiologic cohort study. SETTING: Single-center experience of a nine-bed pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) facility. PATIENTS: Critically ill children without ongoing active blood loss aged 0[Symbol: see text]months to 18[Symbol: see text]years, excluding prematurely born infants or patients after cardiothoracic surgery, and patients with chronic anemia. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Data... Mehr ...