Combining Restrictive Guidelines and a NIRS SCORE to Decrease RBC Transfusions

RBC transfusions will be given to subjects either when participants' Hgb levels fall below defined values based on respiratory status or, despite not having reached their Hgb trigger threshold, if they manifest symptoms judged by the clinical care team to be consistent with anemia (i.e. apnea, bradycardia, or desaturation episodes) and subsequently have a NIRS evaluation that demonstrates an SCOR \< 0.73.

In the liberal group, RBC transfusions will be given to participants when their Hgb level falls below defined values that are based on respiratory support status, as is standard practice.