Patient Blood Management Guideline: Module 1 HOME

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Contents

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Background

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Critical bleeding in children

Patient Blood Management Guidelines: Module 1

Critical Bleeding Massive Transfusion

| Background |

3.2 Pregnancy and children

3.2.2 Critical bleeding in children

There are important differences between children and adults, including blood volume, ability to tolerate blood loss, and age-appropriate haemoglobin and haematocrit levels.17

For practical purposes, massive transfusion in children may be defined as transfusion of > 40 mL blood/kg. A module dedicated to paediatrics (including neonates) will be available in Phase III of the patient blood management guidelines.

In children, ‘massive transfusion’ may be defined as a transfusion of more than 40 mL blood/kg. (The normal blood volume of a child is approximately 80 mL/kg.)