Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2026
How to Administer Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Critically ill Neonates, Infants, and Children
Published on: August 19, 2020
Fibreoptic phototherapy for neonatal jaundice
1Department of Neonatology, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria, Australia, 3052. millsj@cryptic.rch.unimelb.edu.au
Insights
Fibreoptic phototherapy effectively lowers serum bilirubin in newborns but is less effective than conventional phototherapy. It is a safe alternative for term infants with physiological jaundice, though its impact on infant care and bonding requires further study.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Phototherapy
Background:
- Neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia is commonly treated with phototherapy.
- Fibreoptic phototherapy offers a potentially less disruptive alternative for managing elevated serum bilirubin (SBR) in newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of fibreoptic phototherapy in treating neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials.
- Searches included the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, MEDLINE, and EMBASE.
- Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria, evaluating fibreoptic phototherapy in various clinical scenarios.
Main Results:
- Fibreoptic phototherapy significantly reduced SBR compared to no treatment but was less effective than conventional phototherapy.
- It demonstrated equal efficacy to conventional phototherapy in preterm infants and when using two devices simultaneously.
- Combining fibreoptic and conventional phototherapy was more effective than conventional therapy alone.
Conclusions:
- Fibreoptic phototherapy is a viable option for managing neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia and appears safe for term infants with physiological jaundice.
- Evidence supporting claims of reduced interference with infant care or improved parent-child bonding with fibreoptic devices is currently lacking.
Background:
Phototherapy is used to treat newborn infants with hyperbilirubinaemia. Fibreoptic phototherapy is a new mode of phototherapy which is reported to lower serum bilirubin (SBR) while minimising disruption of normal infant care.
Objectives:
To evaluate the efficacy of fibreoptic phototherapy.
Search Strategy:
The standard search strategy of the Cochrane Collaboration was used including searches of the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, MEDLINE, EMBASE and discussion with experts in the field.
Selection Criteria:
Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of fibreoptic phototherapy in the management of newborn infants with hyperbilirubinaemia.
Data Collection And Analysis:
Thirty-one studies were identified of which 24 met inclusion criteria. They evaluated the efficacy of fibreoptic phototherapy in a number of different clinical situations and patient populations.
Main Results:
Fibreoptic phototherapy was more effective at lowering SBR than no treatment but less effective than conventional phototherapy (percentage change in SBR after 24 hours of treatment: WMD -10.7%, 95%CI -18.14, -3.26 and WMD 3.59%, 95%CI 1.27, 5.92 respectively). Fibreoptic phototherapy was equally as effective as conventional phototherapy in preterm infants and when two fibreoptic devices were used simultaneously (change in SBR after 24 hours of treatment: WMD 1.7%, 95%CI -2.65, 6.05 and change in SBR per day over whole treatment period: WMD 2.82%, 95%CI -1.84, 7.48 respectively). A combination of fibreoptic and conventional phototherapy was more effective than conventional phototherapy alone (duration of phototherapy: WMD -12.51 hr, 95%CI -16.00, -9.02, meta-analysis affected by heterogeneity). No conclusion can be made on the superiority of one fibreoptic device over another as the two studies comparing them (one favouring BiliBlanket, the other finding no difference) did not contain a common outcome measure.
Reviewer'S Conclusions:
Fibreoptic phototherapy has a place in the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. It is probably a safe alternative to conventional phototherapy in term infants with physiological jaundice. No trials have been identified which support the widely-held view that fibreoptic devices interfere less with infant care or impact less on parent-child bonding.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:27Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
01:28Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment
01:27Diabetic Retinopathy