Neonatal surgical jaundice revisited

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is a common problem in newborn nurseries and manifest clinically as jaundice. Nearly 25-50% of all newborns and a much higher percentage of premature babies develop hyperbilirubinemia. This is mostly physiological, but a small percentage of these babies have pathological jaundice, requiring detailed investigations and management. It is also absolutely essential to consider a possibility of extra-hepatic biliary atresia early, during management of a case of neonatal direct hyperbilirubinemia as early surgical intervention results in a better outcome in EHBA. This article aims to describe the diagnostic approach to neonatal hyperbilirubinemia with special emphasis on conditions requiring surgical intervention also it throws light on present status of EHBA in Indian circumstances.