Phototherapy is a technique used in medicine to treat neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia, i.e. to reduce bilirubin levels in the blood by using light (electromagnetic radiation). This technique allows the transformation of bilirubin into water-soluble photoisomers that can be excreted in feces and urine, without the need to conjugate in the liver.
Neonatal jaundice should be prevented by maintaining safe levels of bilirubin in the blood, phototherapy being one of the most used techniques for this purpose.
How does neonatal jaundice occur?
Jaundice is the yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes caused by the accumulation or deposition of bilirubin. In newborns, the increase in bilirubin is most often secondary to the destruction or lysis of red blood cells, since the concentration of these cells is higher in the fetus in order to take better advantage of the low concentration of oxygen available in the uterine interior. After the birth of the child, the amount of red blood cells is no longer needed, so a large number of them are naturally destroyed, causing an increase in the release of hemoglobin into the bloodstream that will be subsequently converted to indirect or unconjugated bilirubin (liposoluble) by a series of biochemical reactions.
Free bilirubin can cross the blood-brain barrier, causing neuronal damage when found in excessive amounts due to its neuronal toxicity effect, which can generate permanent neurological sequelae in the patient.
What is neonatal phototherapy? How long does it last?
Phototherapy is a simple protocol that involves placing a light at a distance of 30-40 cm from the naked body surface of the newborn previous placement of radiopaque glasses and removal of any cream or lotion of the skin. The administration of phototherapy will depend on the bilirubin levels, age of life, gestational age at birth and the clinical status of the newborn.
Treatment with phototherapy in the hospital often lasts 1 to 2 days. Radiation is done through a light bulb, special blue fluorescents or LED systems can be used. Unless there are other problems, the child will be able to feed (breastfed or bottle-fed) normally. It should be fed every 2 to 2 ½ hours (10 to 12 times a day).
Efficacy of phototherapy
The effectiveness of phototherapy depends on: the intensity of the light emitted by the devices, have an emission spectrum close to that of the bilirubin absorption, the postnatal age of the newborn, gestation age, birth weight, the cause of jaundice and the value of bilirubin at the beginning of treatment.
It is a technique that allows to treat neonatal jaundice safely, innocuously, easily and with efficient results, especially in the case of preterm newborns. Since hyperbilirubinemia in newborns, if not treated, can affect the nervous system and, with it, mental and auditory development.
What does Kalstein offer you?
Kalstein is a company MANUFACTURER of medical and laboratory equipment of the highest quality and the best technology at the best PRICES in the market, so you can make your PURCHASE with us, knowing that you have the service and advice of a company specialized in the field and committed to provide you with safe, economical and effective options for the performance of your functions in the right way. In this opportunity we present our Child bilirubin phototherapy unit YR02194.
All newborn patients with hyperbilirubinemia need the best care for threatening jaundice. Our line of phototherapy products provides you with the reliability and stability of LED-light intensive phototherapy for your baby patient.
- The unit has a long service life providing between 20,000 and 0,000 hours of light therapy.
- LED fluorescent lamp as radiant elements of phototherapy.
- The curing angle of the lamp can be adjusted horizontally.
- The height of the lamp head can be adjusted.
- The stainless steel bracket can be adjusted.
- Wheels can be locked
- Timer to record the phototherapy operation.
- Use in incubators, irradiant heat moses and any type of moses.
- The YR02194 unit with blue fluorescent tube has a separate frame that can be used with incubator, irradiant heat moses and any type of moses in family care.
- Widely applicable in all hospitals and clinics and optimized for babies with jaundice.
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