Efficacy of phototherapy for neonatal jaundice is increased by the use of low-cost white reflecting curtains.
Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed
; 91(6): F439-42, 2006 Nov.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16877479
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To determine whether the addition of low-cost reflecting curtains to a standard phototherapy unit could increase effectiveness of phototherapy for neonatal jaundice.DESIGN:
Randomised controlled clinical trial.SETTING:
Level-one nursery of the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan, Malayasia. PATIENTS Term newborns with uncomplicated neonatal jaundice presenting in the first week of life.INTERVENTIONS:
Phototherapy with white curtains hanging from the sides of the phototherapy unit (study group, n = 50) was compared with single phototherapy without curtains (control group, n = 47). MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
The primary outcome was the mean difference in total serum bilirubin measured at baseline and after 4 h of phototherapy. The secondary outcome was the duration of phototherapy.RESULTS:
The mean (standard deviation) decrease in total serum bilirubin levels after 4 h of phototherapy was significantly (p<0.001) higher in the study group (27.62 (25.24) micromol/l) than in the control group (4.04 (24.27) micromol/l). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis indicated that the median duration of phototherapy was significantly shorter in the study group (12 h) than in the control group (34 h; chi(2) change 45.2; p<0.001; hazards ratio 0.20; 95% confidence interval 0.12 to 0.32). No difference in adverse events was noted in terms of hyperthermia or hypothermia, weight loss, rash, loose stools or feeding intolerance.CONCLUSION:
Hanging white curtains around phototherapy units significantly increases efficacy of phototherapy in the treatment of neonatal jaundice without evidence of increased adverse effects.
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Phototherapy
/
Jaundice, Neonatal
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Health_economic_evaluation
Language:
En
Journal:
Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed
Year:
2006
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Malaysia