A new blue light-emitting phototherapy device: a prospective randomized controlled study.

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Medical technology
• Phototherapy

Background:

• Neonatal jaundice is a common condition requiring treatment.
• Conventional phototherapy is the standard treatment for hyperbilirubinemia.
• New light sources are being developed to improve phototherapy efficacy and versatility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a novel high-intensity gallium nitride light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy device.
• To compare the efficacy of the new LED device with conventional phototherapy in term infants.
• To evaluate the safety and acceptance of the LED phototherapy device.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, open, randomized study was conducted in two Jerusalem hospitals.
• Sixty-nine healthy term infants meeting American Academy of Pediatrics criteria for phototherapy were enrolled.
• The study compared the duration of phototherapy and the rate of decrease in total serum bilirubin (TSB) concentration between the LED device and conventional phototherapy.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences were observed in the mean TSB concentrations at treatment initiation or termination between the two groups.
• The duration of phototherapy and the rate of TSB decrease were similar for both LED and conventional phototherapy.
• The average rate of TSB decrease was -3.16 micromol/L/h for LED phototherapy versus -2.19 micromol/L/h for conventional phototherapy (P <.14), with no reported side effects.

Conclusions:

• The blue gallium nitride LED phototherapy device is as effective as conventional phototherapy for treating neonatal jaundice.
• The LED device was readily accepted by nursing staff, indicating practical usability.
• Future advancements in LED technology hold promise for even higher irradiance and greater versatility in treating infant jaundice.