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To the Editor: In the article, "Exchange Transfusion Mortality in a Community Hospital," by Dr. Diamond (Amer J Dis Child112:112-115, 1966), he comments that from a total of 15,294 infants delivered during a three-year period, 120 exchange transfusions were performed. He reports eight deaths occurring during, or within six hours, of the procedure, four of which were caused by severe hemolytic disease and four by sudden cardiac arrythmia or cardiac arrest. The gross mortality was 7.4% per patient and 6.7% per exchange transfusion.
In order to extend the data, we should like to report the data from Cumberland Memorial Hospital occurring between January 1, 1962, and December 31, 1965. During this four-year period there were 6,634 births. There were 77 exchange transfusions on 59 children, with only one death occurring within six hours of the procedure. This patient died of severe hemolytic disease, secondary to Rh incompatibility. Therefore,