Etiological Evaluation of Term Neonates with Indirect Hyperbilirubinaemia

Abstract

Aim: Indirect hyperbilirubinemia is a common disease in newborns with many risk factors. In our study, we aimed to investigate the effects of history, physical examination and investigations on treatment and follow-up of patients admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit with the diagnosis of indirect hyperbilirubinemia. Methods: In our cross-sectional and retrospective study, 226 patients who were born at term and hospitalized with the diagnosis of indirect hyperbilirubinemia were included. History, physical examination and examination data were evaluated from the patient files. Results: Of 226 patients included in the study, 126 (55.8%) were boys and 100 (44.2%) were girls. The mean gestational age was 38.3±0.4 weeks and the mean birth weight was 3146±32 grams. The mean postnatal days at the time of hospitalization were 4.1±0.1 days, hospitalization bilirubin was 17.1±0.2 mg/dl, duration of phototherapy was 38.2±1 hours, and weight loss during hospitalization was 3.7±0.3%. The most common diagnosis was ABO incompatibility (27.9%). Bilirubin levels were statistically significantly higher in patients with weight loss. When blood incompatibility and other diagnoses were compared, bilirubin and hemoglobin levels and postnatal age at the time of hospitalization were statistically significantly lower and length of hospitalization was statistically significantly higher in patients with blood incompatibility. Conclusion: Gender and mode of delivery were not significantly associated with hospitalization total bilirubin and duration of phototherapy. Patients with weight loss had statistically higher hospitalization total bilirubin than those without weight loss. In addition, the length of hospitalization of patients with ABO incompatibility was statistically significantly longer than patients hospitalized with other diagnoses.