Evaluation of the irradiance levels delivered by non-conventional phototherapy devices for intensive Jaundice treatment

Abstract

The main purpose of this research is to evaluate irradiance levels delivered by non-conventional phototherapy devices.This evaluation can help to save energy, achieve better treatment and improves available intensive phototherapy quality in use in several hospitals in Egypt. The irradiated energy and uniformity of non-conventional phototherapy devices (n=36) were evaluated at nine hospitals in Egypt. These devices were categorized as three groups including; bilibeds with LEDs, bilibed with fluorescent lamps and bilisphere. The irradiance levels were measured using a phototherapy radiometer. The results show that the irradiance levels ranged from 20.3 to 93.1μW.cm-2.nm-1 and the LEDs bilibed devices produce average irradiance levels approximately double of those results from bilisphere with fluorescent lamps. Otherwise, the bilibed with fluorescent lamps (present about 30 % of the non-conventional phototherapy devices studied) is not adequate for intensive phototherapy. Any assessment of the irradiance energy of the phototherapy devices using a suitable calibrated sensor (radiometer) is mandatory in developing countries. The phototherapy devices that produces an adequate and accurate irradiance levels would increase the degradation rate of bilirubin in the blood and hence minimize the necessity to blood transfusion substitution. LEDs bilibeds produce sufficient electromagnetic energy for jaundice treatment. It can be used alone for intensive treatment better than the bilibed with fluorescent lamps and the bilisphere.