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[Evaluation of a transcutaneous bilirubinometer]
C Ochoa Sangrador1, V M Marugán Isabel, R Tesoro González
1Servicio de Pediatría. Hospital Virgen de la Concha. Zamora.
Anales Espanoles De Pediatria
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Transcutaneous bilirubinometers show high reliability for screening neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. However, their accuracy in predicting serum bilirubin levels is questionable, particularly for high bilirubin concentrations.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Medical Devices
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Transcutaneous bilirubinometers offer a non-invasive method for screening and monitoring neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.
- Despite their utility in reducing blood sampling, concerns exist regarding the accuracy of these devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accuracy and reliability of a classic transcutaneous bilirubinometer in jaundiced newborn infants.
- To assess the device's performance across different measurement sites and in relation to phototherapy.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive observational cross-sectional study involving 117 simultaneous transcutaneous and serum bilirubin measurements in 82 neonates.
- Analysis included agreement between repeat measurements, measurements at different sites, and the development of predictive models for serum bilirubin.
Main Results:
- Excellent agreement was observed for repeat transcutaneous bilirubinometer measurements (ICC > 0.92).
- Correlation coefficients for forehead measurements were 0.75, while sternal measurements varied with phototherapy (0.86 without, 0.54 with).
- Predicted serum bilirubin values had error intervals of ±2 mg/dl for low levels and ±4 mg/dl for high levels (>15 mg/dl).
Conclusions:
- The evaluated transcutaneous bilirubinometer demonstrated high reliability.
- However, significant error margins raise concerns about its accuracy, especially for neonates with elevated bilirubin levels.