THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFE TRANSFUSION MANAGEMENT IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS DURING THE PERIOPERATIVE PERIOD: A NARRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Transfusion management in pediatric patients, particularly during the perioperative period, represents a topic of high relevance in contemporary medical practice. The intrinsic complexity of this subject stems from the crucial understanding that children are not simply scaled-down versions of adults, necessitating interventions adapted to their unique physiology. The widespread issue in medical practice, where some professionals tend to believe that transfusion management strategies applicable to adults can be easily extrapolated to pediatric patients, underscores the need for in-depth investigation in this scenario. This qualitative and descriptive study, conducted in the format of a narrative literature review, aimed to discuss transfusion management during the perioperative period in pediatric patients. The search was carried out in the databases of the Virtual Health Library, Scielo, and Pubmed, resulting in the utilization of 29 studies for synthesizing chapters addressing management and identified author considerations. From this review, it is concluded that the complexity of transfusion management in pediatric patients during the perioperative period highlights the pressing need for specific clinical guidance and evidence-based protocols. The gap in additional research emphasizes the urgency of clear guidelines to avoid suboptimal outcomes. The continuous education of healthcare professionals is underscored to optimize care and minimize risks associated with transfusion in this population.