Blood component therapy.

The blood component support in pediatric patients is more challenging as compared to adult patients, as such, a thorough understanding of various blood components and indications for each is critical when making the decision for transfusion. Transfusion needs in pediatric group parallel the changes that accompany the transitions from fetus to neonate, neonate to infant, and throughout childhood. Modified or unmodified blood components viz. red blood cells, platelets, granulocytes, fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate are required for transfusion support in pediatric population. In general, fetuses and infants younger than 4 months of age have specialized transfusion requirements whereas transfusion of infants older than 4 months and children parallels those for adults. Transfusion practices differ widely among pediatric care units depending upon individual preferences, hospital transfusion policy and resource availability. There is a need to implement best transfusion practices and despite the lack of firm evidences, existing pediatric transfusion guidelines can help pediatric care providers in their decisions related to component transfusion.