Red blood cell transfusion practice in children: current status and areas for improvement?
This study of UK pediatric RBC transfusion practice has demonstrated significant variation in pretransfusion Hb, frequent prescribing in units rather than milliliters, and a high proportion of single transfusions during admissions. Future education and research should target transfusion triggers and prescription volumes for children in all clinical areas.
These empirically ascertained data add credence to the phonological deficit theory. It appears that phonological deficits can be revealed by relatively simple tasks that concern the representation of speech sounds rather than the ability to use these sounds. This suggests that the interface between auditory/sensory and cognitive/operational processing is deficient in the children affected.