The indications of leukodepleting blood or blood products, and the importance of using bedside blood-product filters during neonatal transfusion

Abstract

Transfusion therapy remains one of the most commonly used regimens to treat critically ill neonates. Neonatal intensive care professional nurses have a responsibility to ensure that the procedure is as effective, and as safe, as possible. This article aims to provide neonatal intensive care professional nurses with knowledge of the effects of leukodepletion of blood or blood products, the various available bedside blood-product filters, and the role played by the filter pore size in preventing transfusion related reactions in neonates.