Adverse effects and rebound increase in bilirubin level : comparison between conventional versus intensive phototherapy

Abstract EN

Phototherapy is the mainstay of treatment of hyperbilirubinemia.

The efficacy of phototherapy depended on the light spectrum (wavelength), flux of light, and surface area of the infant exposed to phototherapy.

A rebound in the total serum bilirubin level of 1 to 2 mg per deciliter and occasionally more, can occur after phototherapy is discontinued.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the possible side effects and rebound increase in bilirubin level in the use of conventional and intensive phototherapy.

A total 80 neonates present with significant jaundice and need phototherapy were included in the study, they were term and near term.

The patients are divided it tow group : - group 1 (40 patients) who receive intensive phototherapy and group 2 (40 patients) who receive conventional phototherapy.

The side effects and rebound increase were observed in both groups.

It was found that the complications of conventional phototherapy compared with intensive phototherapy was dehydration (2.5%) for each, skin rash by intensive phototherapy 50%, while in conventional phototherapy 25% (p=0.

018), frequent bowel motion by intensive phototherapy 20%, while in conventional phototherapy 7.5% that the rebound increase in the level of bilirubin was more in an intensive phototherapy group than the conventional phototherapy group.

This study concluded that increasing the surface area of phototherapy associated with the shorter term adverse effect and more rebound increase of bilirubin level than conventional phototherapy.