[Phototherapy in the treatment and prevention of serious icterus in the neonate].
Ten years ago, treatment of serious icterus in the neonate was made more effective by the addition of a new method: the employment of the hypobilirabinaemising effect of light. The mechanism of degradation lying behind this action is not vet fully clear; there can be no doubt, however, that the method is convenient, practical and harmless. Personal results obtained in 1 yr of work in this field are reported. 113 subjects (77% of whom were immature) were treated. The ratio of treated subjects to number of births was 7% (ratio between exsanguinotransfusion and birth values, 0.7%). The means consecutive exposure time has been 48 hours but they arrived also 7 days exposure and there were no cases of immediate or long-term damage. 25% of the treated subjects presented an almost always slight bilirubinaemic rebound. The normal degradation rhythm was 0.2 mg/hr and 0.1 mg/hr on the first and second day respectively. In cases of icterus due to reabsorption of haematoma, however, a 25% above-average degradation rhythm was observed.
Spada
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Ospedale Civile S. Croce di Cuneo, Divisione Pediatrica.
Ambrosiani
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D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D010789:Phototherapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index