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Neurocritical Care
Published in: Neurocritical Care 2/2015

01-10-2015 | Original Article

The Effect of Red Blood Cell Transfusion on Cerebral Autoregulation in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Authors: Mypinder S. Sekhon, Donald E. Griesdale, Marek Czosnyka, Joseph Donnelly, Xia Liu, Marcel J. Aries, Chiara Robba, Andrea Lavinio, David K. Menon, Peter Smielewski, Arun K. Gupta

Published in: Neurocritical Care | Issue 2/2015

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Abstract

Background

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is associated with inconsistent changes in brain tissue oxygenation (PbO2). Previous studies have failed to consider alterations in cerebral autoregulation. Our objective was to investigate the effect of RBC transfusion on cerebral autoregulation, as measured by pressure reactivity index (PRx).

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 28 severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients from a prospective registry between 2007 and 2014. We recorded hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, intracranial pressure, PbO2, cerebral perfusion pressure, PRx, and cerebral lactate/pyruvate ratio for 6 h before and after RBC transfusion. We also recorded body temperature, PaO2, PCO2, pH, and fraction of inspired oxygen. Subgroups of normoxia (PbO2 >20 mmHg) and hypoxia (PbO2 <20 mmHg) prior to transfusion were defined a priori.

Results

The median age was 36 years [interquartile range (IQR) 27–49], 32 % were female. The median admission Glasgow Coma score was 5 (IQR 4–9) and injury severity score was 16 (IQR 9–21). Overall, mean Hb concentration [80 g/L (SD 7) to 89 g/L (SD 8), p < 0.001] and PbO2 increased [23.5 mmHg (SD 8) to 25.0 mmHg (SD 9), p = 0.033] following transfusion. PRx increased post-transfusion [0.028 (SD 0.29) to 0.11 (SD 0.24), p = 0.034], indicating worsening cerebrovascular pressure reactivity. In patients with mean PbO2 >20 mmHg pre-transfusion (n = 20), the PRx increased significantly [−0.052 (SD 0.24) to 0.079 (SD 0.22), p = 0.007] but did not change in patients with PbO2 <20 mmHg: PRx [0.22 (SD 0.34) to 0.18 (SD 0.30), p = 0.36].

Conclusion

RBC transfusion in severe TBI patients results in worsening PRx, indicating impaired cerebral autoregulation.
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Metadata
Title
The Effect of Red Blood Cell Transfusion on Cerebral Autoregulation in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors
Mypinder S. Sekhon
Donald E. Griesdale
Marek Czosnyka
Joseph Donnelly
Xia Liu
Marcel J. Aries
Chiara Robba
Andrea Lavinio
David K. Menon
Peter Smielewski
Arun K. Gupta
Publication date
01-10-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Neurocritical Care / Issue 2/2015
Print ISSN: 1541-6933
Electronic ISSN: 1556-0961
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-015-0141-x

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