During the process of performing exchange transfusions on babies with hyper-bilirubinemia, we have come across some information we feel is of vital importance for all physicians who are doing these procedures.
It is common practice of this hospital to perform the procedure under sterile operative conditions within the surgical rooms of the hospital. The procedure used is that of inserting a feeding tube into the umbilical vein for the injection and withdrawal of the blood. In July of 1962, we had reports of two of our infants, who had these exchange transfusions within two weeks of each other, developed staphylococcal septicemia, one of which was fatal. In reviewing the techniques used in the procedure, we came across the following information: