Publication:

Comparison of effectiveness of light emitting diode phototherapy with conventional phototherapy and combination phototherapy of conventional with fiberoptic biliblanket, and light emitting diode phototherapy with fiber optic biliblanket for treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

Background Hyperbilirubinemia is a common problem in neonates with an incidence of 70-80%. Phototherapy is the preferred method of treatment for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia by virtue of its noninvasive nature and its safety. LED phototherapy, conventional phototherapy and fiber optic phototherapy are the modalities used in management of nonhemolytic hyperbilirubinemia in the first week of life in healthy near term and term neonates. The present study was conducted with the objective to compare effectiveness of double surface light emitting diode phototherapy with conventional double surface phototherapy and combination phototherapy of conventional and fiberoptic biliblanket, and light emitting diode phototherapy with fiber optic biliblanket for treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Methods Total of 236 neonates with hyperbilirubinemia were prospectively randomized to four groups to receive single surface conventional and fiber optic biliblanket combination phototherapy (n=60; Group-1), double surface LED phototherapy (n=59; Group-2), fiber optic biliblanket and single surface LED phototherapy groups (n=62; Group-3) and double surface conventional phototherapy group (n=55; Group-4). Bilirubin levels were measured at different time intervals and adverse effects were noted if any.

Results The rate of percentage and overall decrease of bilirubin was best in Group-2 (48.27%; 8.6 mg%) followed by Group-4 (45.49%; 8.1 mg%), Group-3 (41.26%; 7.27 mg%) and Group-1 (39.37%; 6.9 mg%). None of the babies presented side effects in Group-1 and Group-3. Neonates in Group-4 had shown loose stools (n=1), skin rash (n=3) and hyperthermia (n=2). Hyperthernia and skin rash was found in each case in Group-2.

Conclusions Rate of decrease of bilirubin was best in double surface LED phototherapy followed by double surface conventional phototherapy, fiber optic biliblanket with single surface LED combination phototherapy and fiber optic biliblanket and single surface conventional phototherapy.