Evalution of term newborns hospitalized in our NICU with the diagnosis of indirect hyperbilirubinemia

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the clinical and demographic features, duration of treatment and risk factors in term newborns hospitalized with a diagnosis of indirect hyperbilirubinemia. Materials and Method: All term neonates, hospitalized with a diagnosis of indirect hyperbilirubinemia between January 2008 - December 2008 were included in the study. The patients in the study group were followed up for a year in respect to the complications of hyperbilirubinemia. Results: Two hundred and forty eight neonates, who met the inclusion criteria were evaluated. One hundred and forty five (58.5 %) neonates were males. The average gestational age and birth weight were found to be 38.1±1.0 weeks and 3025±509 g respectively. Of the 248 neonates, 136 (55.6 %) were the first child of the family and 198 (80 %) were exclusively breast fed. The average postnatal age at admission and total bilirubin level were 4.6±2.6 days and 18.7±4.5 mg/dL respectively. In 98 (39.5 %) neonates the etiology of hyperbilirubinemia could not be found. Dehydration was found in 33 (13.3 %), ABO incompatability in 75 (30.2 %) and Rh incompatability in 19 (7.2 %) patients. The average length of stay and duration of phototherapy were 3.1±2.2 days and 44.8±22.8 hours respectively. Nine patients received IVIG; of which 6 had Rh incompatability, 2 ABO incompatability and 1 subgorup incompatability. Exchange transfusion was performed in 8 patients. Two patients receiving IVIG had to be treated with exchange transfusion. During 1 year follow up any bilirubin encephalopathy, hearing loss or neuromotor developmental delay was not observed. Conclusion: Birth weight less than 2500 g, postnatal pathological weight loss and exclusive breastfeeding (p<0.05) were found to be the risk factors related with high total serum bilirubin levels. During one year follow up, absence of any developmental delay, hearing problem or bilirubin encephalopathy may indicate that optimum treatment and follow up have been accomplished for these newborns.