The efficacy of the in-house light-emitting diode phototherapy equipment compare to conventional phototherapy equipment on the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

From the empirical study, light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy is effective for treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. However commercial LED phototherapy equipment is still expensive. Thus, in-house LED phototherapy equipment has been developed.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare efficacy between in-house LED to conventional phototherapy equipment in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia at Mae Sot Hospital.

MATERIAL AND METHOD:

This was a randomized controlled trial. Fifty newborns with hyperbilirubinemia were allocated to LED phototherapy group and conventional group. Baseline characteristics were compared and analyzed by descriptive statistics, exact probability and student t-test, and change in serum bilirubin level was analyzed by multilevel regression analysis.

RESULTS:

There were 25 patients in each of the two groups. The median duration of phototherapy in LED group was 25 hours, whereas the conventional group required 48 hours (p < 0.001) and the average serum bilirubin level in LED group decreased more rapidly than in conventional group (p = 0.007). Hyperthermia were found in 22 infants from conventional group (88%) compared to 11 infants from LED group (44%) (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION:

In-house LED phototherapy equipment is more effective than conventional phototherapy in the reduction of serum bilirubin level and occurrence of hyperthermia during treatment is less.

• Authors: Ratthakhet Ek-isariyaphorn, Rattikarn Maneenut, Jiraporn Kardreunkaew, Waleerat Khobkhun, Sunaree Saenphrom
• Journal: Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet (J Med Assoc Thai) Vol. 96 Issue 12 Pg. 1536-41 (Dec 2013) ISSN: 0125-2208 [Print] Thailand
• PMID: 24511717 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Topics

• Female
• Humans
• Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal (therapy)
• Infant, Newborn
• Male
• Phototherapy (instrumentation)
• Treatment Outcome