Cardiac output measurement in Malawian children ages 2 months–12 years hospitalised with severe anaemia (COM-TRACT)

The data generated by this small but granular study of haemodynamic and cardiac function provide reassuring physiological evidence showing the safety of higher doses of blood transfusion than currently recommended. It also supports the findings of a secondary analysis of the Transfusion and Treatment of Severe Anaemia in African Children trial indicating that whole blood transfusions are safe. These data support the new evidence-based paediatric transfusion algorithm for anaemic African children and its recommendation for safe use.