Neonatal Jaundice - 2019
Neonatal Jaundice - 2019
Neonatal Jaundice - 2019
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2. Measurement of TSB
a. Indication of TSB measurement:
i. Jaundice in first 24 hour
ii. Beyond 24 hr: if visually assessed jaundice is likely
to be more than 12 to 14 mg/dL (as beyond this TSB
level, visual assessment becomes unreliable) or
approaching the phototherapy range or beyond for
that baby.
iii. If you are unsure about visual assessment
iv. During phototherapy for monitoring the progress
and after phototherapy to check for rebound in
select cases (such as those with hemolytic jaundice)
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Yes No
Yes No
#
Serious jaundice: Measure serum bilirubin if:
a. Presence of visible jaundice in first a. Jaundice in first 24 hour
24 hour b. B e y o n d 2 4 h r : i f o n v i s u a l
b. Yellow palms and soles anytime assessment or by transcutenous
c. S i g n s o f a c u t e b i l i r u b i n bilirubinometry, TSB is likely to be
encephalopathy or kernicterus: more than 12 to 14 mg/dL or
hypertonia, abnormal posturing approaching phototherapy range
such as arching, retrocollis, or beyond.
opisthotonus or convulsion, fever, c. If you are unsure about visual
high pitched cry) assessment
d. TcB/TSB value more than 95 th
centile as per age specific nomogram
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Management of jaundice
1. Infants born at gestation of 35 weeks or more
American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) criteria should be used
for deciding need for phototherapy or exchange transfusion in
these infants.5 AAP provides two age-specific nomograms- one
each for phototherapy and exchange transfusion. The
nomograms have lines for three different risk categories of
neonates (Figure 18.2 and 18.3). These lines include one each for
lower risk babies (38 wk or more and no risk factors), medium
risk babies (38 wk or more with risk factors, or 35 wk to 37 wk and
without any risk factors) and higher risk (35 wk to 37 wk and
with risk factors).
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2. Preterm babies
There are no consensus guidelines to employ phototherapy or
exchange transfusion in preterm babies. The proposed TSB cut-
offs for phototherapy and exchange transfusion are arbitrary
and clinical judgement should be exercised before making a
decision (Table 18.1).
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Therapeutic options
1. Phototherapy
Phototherapy (PT) remains the mainstay of treating
hyperbilirubinemia in neonates. PT is highly effective and
carries an excellent safety track record of over 50 years. It acts by
converting insoluble bilirubin (unconjugated) into soluble
isomers that can be excreted in urine and feces. The bilirubin
molecule isomerizes to harmless forms under blue-green light
(460 to 490 nm); and the light sources having high irradiance in
this particular wavelength range are more effective than the
others.
With the easy availability and low cost in India, CFL PT is being
most commonly used device. Often, CFL devices have four blue
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Administering phototherapy
Make sure that ambient room temperature is optimum
(250 - 280 C) to prevent hypothermia or hyperthermia in the baby.
Remove all clothes of the baby except the diaper. Cover the
baby’s eyes with an eye patch, ensuring that the patch does not
block the baby’s nostrils. Place the naked baby under the lights
in a cot or bassinet if weight is more than 2 kg or in an incubator
or radiant warmer if the baby is small (<2 kg).
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Role of sunlight
Exposing the baby to sunlight does not help in treatment of
jaundice and is associated with risk of sunburn and therefore
should be avoided.
2. Exchange transfusion
Double volume exchange transfusion (DVET) should be
performed if the TSB levels reach to age specific cut-off for
exchange transfusion or the infant shows signs of bilirubin
encephalopathy irrespective of TSB levels.
In di ca t i on s f or D V ET a t b i r t h i n i n f a n t s w i t h R h
isoimmunization include:
1. Cord bilirubin is 5 mg/dL or more, OR
2. Cord Hb is 10 g/dL or less
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4. IV hydration
Infants with severe hyperbilirubinemia and evidence of
dehydration (e.g. excessive weight loss) should be given IV
hydration. An extra fluid of 50 mL/kg of N/3 saline over 8 hr
decreases the need for exchange transfusion.11
5. Other agents
There is no proven evidence of benefit of drugs like
phenobarbitone, clofibrate, or steroids to prevent or treat
hyerbilirubinemia in neonates and therefore these agents
should not be employed in treatment of jaundiced infants.
Prolonged jaundice
There is no good definition of prolonged jaundice (PJ).
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If ‘No’:
1. Visually assess severity of jaundice
If yes: manage as per
(measure TSB, if required)
cholestasis guidelines
2. Assess for and manage inadequate
breastfeeding
3. Perform clinical examination to
ascertain the cause: extravasated
blood, hemolysis, hypothyroidism1
1
thyroid screen can be considered at this stage
TSB: total serum bilirubin; CNS: Criggler Najjar syndrome; PTx: phototherapy
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References
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predict severe illness in children under age 2 months: a multicentre
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2. M a d a n A , M a c M o h a n J R , S t e v e n s o n D K . N e o n a t a l
Hyperbilrubinemia. In: Avery’s Diseases of the Newborn. Eds:
Taeush HW, Ballard RA, Gleason CA. 8th edn; WB Saunders.,
Philadelphia, 2005: pp 1226-56.
3. Maisels MJ, Gifford K: Normal serum bilirubin levels in newborns
and effect of breast-feeding. Pediatrics 78:837-43, 1986.
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9. Halamek LP, Stevenson DK. Neonatal Jaundice. In Fanroff AA,
Martin RJ (Eds): Neonatal Perinatal Medicine. Diseases of the fetus
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10. van Imhoff DE, Dijk PH, Weykamp CW, Cobbaert CM, Hulzebos
CV; BARTrial Study Group. Measurements of neonatal bilirubin
and albumin concentrations: a need for improvement and quality
control. Eur J Pediatr 2011;170:977-82.
11. Mehta S, Kumar P, Narang A. A randomized controlled trial of
fluid supplementation in term neonates with severe
hyperbilirubinemia. J Pediatr 2005;147:781-5.
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