| Subject | Contents |
| Definition | Bili lights (phototherapy) are used to help infants with jaundice (a yellow coloring of the skin and eyes related to problems with liver function).
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| Alternative Names | Phototherapy |
| Information | Phototherapy is performed on infants who have elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood. Blue fluorescent lamps generate specific wavelengths of light that help break down bilirubin into nontoxic water-soluble components that can then be excreted.
BACKGROUND:
Bilirubin in the blood is normally converted by the liver to a easily excretable form. A newborn infant's liver can only convert a limited amount of bilirubin into this form. If blood levels of bilirubin become too high, the ability of the liver to convert it may be overwhelmed, leading to sustained high levels in the blood.
In this case, bilirubin can enter body tissues, producing the characteristic yellow eyes and yellow skin of jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia). Bilirubin also may enter brain tissue, where it can accumulate and cause permanent brain damage if levels become too high.
PHOTOTHERAPY TREATMENT:
The treatment for newborn jaundice depends on three factors: the birth weight, the concentration of bilirubin in the blood, and the newborn's age in hours. In severe cases of elevated bilirubin where the newborn has a low birth weight and is less than 24 hours old, an exchange transfusion may be preferred over phototherapy. With very high bilirubin concentrations, regardless of age and weight, an exchange transfusion may be the best option.
Phototherapy involves the exposure of bare skin to fluorescent light. Specific wavelengths of the light break down the bilirubin. For phototherapy the newborn is placed, without clothes or in a small diaper, under the fluorescent lights with the eyes covered to protect them from the bright light. Body temperature, vital signs , duration of treatment, positioning of the bulbs, and the newborn's responses are carefully noted. The child is turned frequently to maximize the effects of therapy. Some children can receive phototherapy at home, along with the daily visits of a nurse who can obtain a sample of blood for testing. Dehydration may result from exposure to the lights, so intravenous fluids may be required. Bilirubin levels are monitored and when the levels have declined sufficiently, the infant can be taken from the phototherapy area. |
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