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Do phototherapy hoods really protect the neonate?
G Ostrowski1, S D Pye, I A Laing
1Department of Child Life and Health, University of Edinburgh The Royal Infirmary, Scotland.
Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|August 16, 2000
Summary
The Amber 300 phototherapy hood offers limited eye protection for neonates during phototherapy. High blue-light radiance levels were detected, exceeding safety limits, necessitating careful infant positioning and potentially more effective eye shields.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Ophthalmology
- Medical physics
Background:
- Neonatal jaundice is common and treated with phototherapy.
- Blue-light phototherapy units emit high-intensity light.
- Neonatal eyes are vulnerable to light damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the protective efficacy of the Amber 300 phototherapy hood.
- To measure blue-light radiance levels during phototherapy.
- To provide clinical recommendations for neonatal eye protection.
Main Methods:
- Hazard-weighted blue-light radiance measurements were taken.
- Measurements were performed inside incubators with and without the hood.
- A mannequin simulated a neonate undergoing phototherapy.
Main Results:
- Blue-light radiance levels within the hood exceeded adult industrial safety limits.
- The hood's protection was found to be inadequate in certain configurations.
- Triple phototherapy without eye protection was identified as hazardous.
Conclusions:
- Infant positioning is critical: the hood's shadow must extend 30 mm below the lower eyelids.
- More effective neonatal eye protection may be required.
- Triple phototherapy necessitates eye patches for infants.