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Effect of infants' position on serum bilirubin level during conventional phototherapy

M L Donneborg1, K B Knudsen, F Ebbesen

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. fe@rn.dk

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|June 10, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Infant positioning during phototherapy for hyperbilirubinaemia does not impact total serum bilirubin (TSB) reduction. Routine position changes every three hours are common in Scandinavia but unnecessary for effective treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Pediatric phototherapy
  • Bilirubin metabolism

Background:

  • Neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia is common.
  • Phototherapy is a standard treatment.
  • Infant positioning during phototherapy varies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Compare TSB reduction with exclusive supine vs. alternating supine/prone positioning.
  • Survey phototherapy practices in Denmark and Norway.

Main Methods:

  • 112 healthy infants with non-haemolytic hyperbilirubinaemia randomized.
  • Phototherapy for 24 hours.
  • TSB measured at 0, 12, and 24 hours.
  • Survey of 41 neonatal departments.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in TSB decrease between positioning groups (12h: 32% in both; 24h: 49% vs 50%).
  • Two-thirds of departments routinely alternate infant positions.
  • Most common alternation interval is every three hours.

Conclusions:

  • Infant positioning does not significantly affect TSB reduction during phototherapy.
  • Widespread alternating exposure practice in Scandinavia is unnecessary.
Abstract

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