Phototherapy can reduce the bilirubin in the newborn's blood to normal levels. It is applied in a course for 3-5 days. in perinatal centers, treatment takes place under fluorescent lamps.
Phototherapy is a conservative method of influencing the body. It is often used to treat neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. In the common people, this disease is known as jaundice. There are many reasons for the occurrence of this disease, while it is observed in almost 70% of babies. Since the critical level of bilirubin can negatively affect the activity of the central nervous system, it is reduced with a special lamp. Phototherapy is prescribed if the concentration of serum bilirubin for children with normal body weight exceeds 256 μmol / L.
Phototherapy lamp
The most commonly used fluorescent lamps. It has been proven that under the influence of blue color, recovery occurs in a shorter time. At the same time, sometimes white and white-blue lamps are installed in perinatal centers and hospitals, from which the effect also becomes noticeable, but after a slightly longer period of time.
Phototherapy procedure
Treatment can be carried out in a special heated bed or on a table. The child is completely undressed and placed under a lamp. Boys' eyes and genitals are usually covered. Then a special installation is turned on, which is placed at a distance of 50 cm from the newborn. The traditional treatment regimen assumes that every two hours it is necessary to take a break from the procedure. However, it can vary depending on the severity of the condition and the individual characteristics of the baby.
Since fluid loss occurs under the lamp, an additional drinking regimen is prescribed, and the baby's weight is measured every 6 or 8 hours. The duration of phototherapy for newborns depends on the weight and the amount of bilirubin.
The result of phototherapy in newborns
The first results become noticeable within 24 hours, but the course of treatment is usually 3-5 days. If there is a risk of complications, then during the course of the course, bilirubin is measured 1-4 times a day. Full recovery is judged by a decrease in indicators to standards and by their stability.
There are also contraindications to phototherapy. These include high levels of bound bilirubin, abnormal liver function, and obstructive jaundice.
In conclusion, it should be noted that phototherapy can be carried out not only for jaundice, but also for morphological and functional immaturity of the newborn, in the presence of large hematomas and hemorrhages, with hemolytic disease in Rh-conflict, as a preparation for a replaced blood transfusion.
