title: Fibreoptic phototherapy in the management of jaundice in low birthweight neonates.
abstract: A fibreoptic phototherapy device has been compared with conventional white and special blue fluorescent phototherapy lamps to evaluate its efficacy in lowering serum bilirubin levels in low-birthweight neonates. Fibreoptic phototherapy was found to be as effective as white light and less effective than blue light, as assessed by (i) the bilirubin concentration after 24 h of phototherapy and at the end of phototherapy, (ii) the duration of phototherapy, (iii) the percentage daily decline rate and (iv) the overall percentage decline rate (p < 0.05). There were no failures of phototherapy and the need for re-exposure was low (4.7% of the total sample), with no difference between groups. The fibreoptic approach represents a promising way to aggregate synergically the most recent optical technologies and develop a modern, efficient and caring phototherapy system for low-birthweight infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Donzelli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moroni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pratesi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rapisardi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Agati
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fusi
mesh_terms: D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000628:therapy*; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome