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Neonatal jaundice--are we over-treating?
Walsh, S A Murphy, J F A
Walsh, S A
Murphy, J F A
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Date
2010-01
Date Submitted
Keywords
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Subject Mesh
Female
Gestational Age
Humans
Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal
Infant, Newborn
Ireland
Male
Phototherapy
Physician's Practice Patterns
Retrospective Studies
Gestational Age
Humans
Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal
Infant, Newborn
Ireland
Male
Phototherapy
Physician's Practice Patterns
Retrospective Studies
Planned Date
Start Date
Collaborators
Principal Investigators
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Article3936.pdf
Adobe PDF, 7.22 KB
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Abstract
Hyperbilirubinaemia is the most common condition requiring evaluation and treatment in newborns. A study in the NEJM 2006 suggested that current guidelines for the treatment of hyperbilirubinaemia in otherwise healthy infants should be relaxed. Prompted by this we performed a retrospective review of review of all term infants who received phototherapy between 1998 and 2006 (total number births = 56,894) in the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street. 1441 infants received phototherapy during this time period (2.5%). Of those that were of term gestation (n=539), only 9% of those infants receiving phototherapy had peak total serum bilirubin (TSB) exceeding 400 umol. Twenty six percent of infants who received phototherapy had a peak TSB that never exceeded 250 umol/l. There were no cases of kernicterus. Review of the Coombs status revealed that 27% of those undergoing phototherapy in the lowest TSB range were Coombs positive. Seven Coombs positive infants had peak TSB >400 umol/l (14%). Four Coombs positive infants received exchange transfusions. Following this study we would concur with the opinion of Newman et al that current guidelines for the treatment of hyperbilirubinaemia in otherwise healthy infants could be relaxed.
Language
en
ISSN
0332-3102
eISSN
ISBN
DOI
PMID
20222394