Comparative effects of two phototherapy delivery systems on cerebral blood flow velocity in term neonates.
BACKGROUND
Phototherapy is an effective and generally safe method of treating neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. However, there is some concern that it may affect cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) in newborns with fragile cerebral vasculature.


OBJECTIVE
To measure and compare the effects of two different phototherapy units, delivering similar irradiance, on CBFVs.


METHODS
Doppler flow velocities were measured in term infants under fluorescent overhead and fluorescent BiliBed phototherapy units, respectively, at baseline, 4 and 24 h of therapy.


RESULTS
Peak systolic CBFV increased during treatment in infants treated under overhead phototherapy (n = 18) but not in those treated in BiliBeds (n = 12).


CONCLUSIONS
Different phototherapy delivery modalities can have differential effects on CBFV in term neonates.
Department of Neonatology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. cathy@cc.huji.ac.il
Cathy
C
Hammerman
Michael
M
Kaplan
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D006932:Hyperbilirubinemia / Q000628:therapy; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D010789:Phototherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*