The content of the video is professionally advised by Specialist Level II, MD Tran Lien Anh, Neonatology Department, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.
Jaundice in newborns, or infant jaundice, is a very common phenomenon that occurs when the blood bilirubin levels are elevated, causing bilirubin to seep into the skin and tissues, resulting in jaundice and yellowing of the mucous membranes. Physiological jaundice in newborns occurs in almost all newborns and typically appears around the second day after birth.
In addition, there are other causes that lead to higher-than-normal infant jaundice, with the risk being due to the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood, which can increase the potential consequences for the child if not intervened early. The common method applied for pathological infant jaundice is phototherapy.
Phototherapy is one of the popular methods used today to treat jaundice caused by elevated indirect bilirubin in newborns. This method uses white or blue light with wavelengths ranging from 400-480 nm to shine on the infant's body, penetrating through the skin layer to the subcutaneous fat layer, converting indirect bilirubin into photobilirubin, which is water-soluble, non-toxic to the child, and can be excreted through the liver or kidneys.
The therapeutic light from phototherapy helps to:
- Excrete bilirubin in the infant's blood through urine;
- Rapidly reduce the phenomenon of infant jaundice;
- Prevent bilirubin from entering the nervous system (which can cause brain damage).
The technical procedure for neonatal phototherapy includes:
- Preparation and informing the child's family;
- Examining and assessing all organs of the newborn;
- Evaluating the level of infant jaundice;
- Ensuring sterile, warm, and ventilated conditions when performing phototherapy;
- Covering the child's eyes with a dark cloth;
- Using a diaper to cover the child's genital area to limit the risk of testicular atrophy, which could affect future reproductive function;
- Exposing the entire body of the child to ensure maximum light exposure during phototherapy;
- Providing adequate hydration for the child before phototherapy, preferably through breastfeeding;
- Placing the child in an incubator at the center of the light source;
- Turning on the phototherapy light and adjusting the temperature of the phototherapy device to match the child's body temperature;
- Changing the child's position every 2-4 hours;
- Continuously checking bilirubin levels every 12-24 hours to determine the duration of phototherapy.
During phototherapy, the child's skin color will turn bluish-purple, and continuous monitoring of vital signs such as pulse, respiratory rate, heart rate, and oxygen saturation is required.
Afterward, it is necessary to monitor factors such as the child's weight, nutritional status, condition of jaundice, neurological symptoms, blood glucose levels, bilirubin levels, and electrolytes to promptly detect any side effects of phototherapy and address them in a timely manner.
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