Exchange transfusion in a neonatal unit in western Iraq

Abstract

Data were collected on 110 newborns with hyperbilirubinaemia admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit Al-Ramadi Maternity and Pediatric Hospital western Iraq between 1 March and 1 September 2004. All initially received phototherapy. Thirty had a total serum bilirubin of 340 mmol/L and required exchange transfusion (ET). Factors associated with hyperbilirubinaemia in newborns who received ET are shown in Table 1. The percentage of neonates treated with ET (27.3%) is higher than that currently reported in the literature. This might be attributable to the deterioration of health services during and after the Gulf wars and the sanctions in Iraq. The capacity of the curative health system was greatly reduced: about 75% of hospital equipment no longer worked a quarter of health centres were closed and per capita spending was half that prior to 1990. (excerpt)