ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of double phototherapy versus
single conventional phototherapy in decreasing serum bilirubin levels in jaundiced
neonates. Forty-two preterm infants who were less than 37 weeks' gestational age and
less than 2000 g birthweight with nonhemolytic jaundice were alternately assigned
to double phototherapy (n = 19) (Biliblanket, Ohmeda with irradiance of 33 to 35 μW/cm2 /nm in addition to single conventional phototherapy with combination of three or four
special blue and white lamps with irradiance of 7 to 9 μW/cm2 /nm) or to single conventional phototherapy (n = 23) based on elevated serum bilirubin levels in the first week of life. Phototherapy
was initiated at specific bilirubin levels in three weight stratifications. The groups
were similar in clinical characteristics at study entry. The decrease in serum bilirubin
levels was very significant in the double phototherapy group at 8 hours after the
therapy (-29 ± 18.8 versus 8.5 ± 27 μmol/L; p <0.001), at 16 hours after the therapy (-49.6 ± 15.4 versus 3.4 ± 39 μmol/L; p <0.001), and at 24 hours after therapy (-71.8 ± 18.8 versus -3.4 ± 32.5 μmol/L; p <0.001) compared with the conventional phototherapy group. The time taken for bilirubin
levels to fall below the threshold level was 55 ± 41 hours in the single group and
14 ± 6 hours in the double group (p <0.001). Double phototherapy was well tolerated. The Biliblanket when used in conjunction
with single conventional phototherapy resulted in a faster decrease of serum bilirubin.
We conclude that the use of double phototherapy compared with single conventional
phototherapy shortens the duration of hyperbilirubinemia without complications.
Keywords
Double versus single phototherapy - hyperbilirubinemia
