Effectiveness and safety of two phototherapy devices for the humanised management of neonatal jaundice

INTRODUCTIONNeonatal jaundice is common, especially in premature infants. Compliance with treatment protocols and standard serum bilirubin curves forces the clinician to separate the child from the mother after birth for short phototherapy. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of two innovative devices for phototherapy including a LED light mesh: one sleeping bag and one blanket compared to conventional hospital or ambulatory phototherapy. METHODSTwo randomised clinical trials were conducted: one with newborns >2,000g at birth in the Neonatal Care Unit and the other with premature infants followed-up in an outpatient clinic (PMC). The gold standard for bilirubin measurement was serum bilirubin, and ambulatory controls were performed with the Bilicheck®. Parents and health personnel completed a questionnaire on comfort and perceptions. RESULTSIn the study using the bag, a linear regression was performed for the decrease in bilirubin in mg/dL/h, controlling by early jaundice (