1. Case Scenario
A New-born baby born with 2kg weight, baby’s
condition was well and stable.
After 3 days of birth of baby, the mother has
noticed yellowish discoloration of the whole
body and sclera.
During the first two days stools were said to be
dark in color which has turned clay color by the
3rd day .
3. What is the Neonatal Jaundice?
Neonatal Jaundice(also called Newborn jaundice) is a
condition marked by high levels of bilirubin in the
blood.
The increased bilirubin
cause the infant's skin
and whites of the eyes
(sclera) to look yellow.
4. Neonatal Jaundice
Visible form of bilirubinemia
›Adult sclera >2mg / dl
›Newborn skin >5 mg / dl
Incidence
Occurs in 60% of term and 80% of preterm neonates
However, significant jaundice occurs in 6 % of term babies
5.
6. Special characteristic in neonates
• 1.More bilirubin produced
• Much more Hemolysis
• The life-length of Hemolysis(70~80)
7. Special characteristic in neonates
• 2.The low capability of albumin on
unconjugated bilirubin transportation
• Acid intoxication
• Less albumin in neonates
8. Special characteristic in neonates
• 3.The low capability of hepatocyte
• The primary development of Hepato-enzyme system
• Easy-broken hepato-enzyme system
• After-born, the blood glucose level is very low.
9. Special characteristic in neonates
• 4.High workload of the hepato-enteric
circulation
• Less bacterial
• Low enzymatic activity in intestine
11. Physiological jaundice
Characteristics
Appears after 24 hours
Maximum intensity by 4th-5th day in term & 7th day in
preterm
Serum level less than 15 mg / dl
Clinically not detectable after 14 days
Disappears without any treatment
Note: Baby should, however, be watched for worsening of jaundice
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12. Pathological jaundice
Appears within 24 hours of age
Increase of bilirubin > 5 mg / dl / day
Serum bilirubin > 15 mg / dl
Jaundice persisting after 14 days
Stool clay / white colored and urine staining
clothes yellow
Direct bilirubin> 2 mg / dl
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15. Causes of jaundice
Appearing within 24 hours of age
Hemolytic disease of NB : Rh, ABO
Infections: TORCH, malaria, bacterial
G6PD deficiency
Appearing between 24-72 hours of life
Physiological
Sepsis
Polycythemia
Concealed hemorrhage
Intraventricular hemorrhage
Increased entero-hepatic circulation
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16. Causes of jaundice
After 72 hours of age
Sepsis
Cephalo-hematoma
Neonatal hepatitis
Extra-hepatic biliary atresia
Breast milk jaundice
Metabolic disorders
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17. Common causes in India
Physiological
Blood group incompatibility
G6PD deficiency
Bruising and cephalo-hematoma
Intrauterine and postnatal infections
Breast milk jaundice
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19. Clinical assessment of jaundice
Area of body Bilirubin levels
mg/dl
Face 4-8
Upper trunk 5-12
Lower trunk & thighs 8-16
Arms and lower legs 11-18
Palms & soles > 15
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20. How to measure
Use a TC bilirubinometer in babies with Gestational age of 35 weeks or
more and postnatal age of > 24 hours.
If a TC bilirubinometer is not available, measure the serum bilirubin.
If a TC bilirubinometer measurement > 250 umol/l (15 mg/dl) ………..
Check the result by measuring the serum bilirubin.
21. Approach to jaundiced baby
o Birth weight
o Gestation and postnatal age
o Assess clinical condition (well or ill)
Physiological or Pathological
o Look for evidence of kernicterus* in deeply jaundiced
Newborn
o *Lethargy and poor feeding, poor or absent Moro's,
opisthotonos or convulsions.
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22. Diagnosis
Maternal & perinatal history
Physical examination
Laboratory tests (must in all)
›Total & direct bilirubin*
›Blood group and Rh for mother and baby*
›Hematocrit, retic count and peripheral smear*
›Sepsis screen
›Liver and thyroid function
›TORCH titers, Liver scan when conjugated hyperbilirubinemia
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23.
24. Management
Rationale: reduce level of serum bilirubin and
prevent bilirubin toxicity
Prevention of hyperbilirubinemia: early feeds,
adequate hydration
Reduction of bilirubin levels: phototherapy,
Exchange transfusion, Drugs
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25. Mechanism of phototherapy
Photo-oxidation
Configurational isomerization- Water – soluble E-Z isomers
Structural isomerization- lumirubin
Out of 3 mechanism structural isomerization is most
effective.
28. Phototherapy
Frequent extra breast feeding every 2 hourly.
Turn baby after each feed.
Temperature record 2 to 4 hourly.
Weight record- daily.
Monitor urine frequency.
Monitor bilirubin level.
29. Key point in the practical execution
of phototherapy
1.The infant should be naked except for diaper , eye to be
covered
2. Distance between the skin and light source (30-45cm) .
3. When used spotlight , the infant is placed in centre .
4. Routinely add 10-15% extra fluid .
5. Timing of follow –up and serum bilirubin testing must
be individualized.
30. Lights used in phototherapy
1. Micro white halogen Light
2. Fluoro- 2 blue and 2 white fluorescent lights
Types of Phototherapy unit
Single surface unit
Double surface unit
Triple surface unit
31.
32. Side effects of phototherapy
Increased insensible water loss
Loose stools
Skin rash
Bronze baby syndrome
Hyperthermia
Upsets maternal baby interaction
May result in hypocalcemia
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33. Exchange Transfusion
Removing affected infants blood and simultaneously replacing
with aliquots of compatible donor blood.
Aliquots of blood = Small volumes of blood
34. Indications
ABO incompatibility
Rh isoimmunization
Indirect serum bilirubin- 20mg/100 ml or more during first
5 days of life.
Septicemia
DIC
Life threatening metabolic disorders
Acute renal and hepatic failure
Poisoning
Symptomatic Polycythemia
Teaching Aids:
35. Method
1. Infants stomach should be emptied before transfusion to prevent aspiration.
2. Vital signs monitored.
3. With strict aseptic technique, the umbilical vein is cannulated with catheter.
4. Aspiration of 20ml of infant blood alternating with infusion of 20ml of donor
blood.
5. Goal- An isovolumetric exchange of approximately two blood volumes of the
infant .
Eg.- Double-volume exchange- 2 x blood volume = 2 x 80 cc/kg = 160 cc/kg
36. Choice of blood for exchange
blood transfusion
ABO incompatibility
› Use O blood crossmatched against infant serum.
› In less severe cases- Identify ABO group of both mother and baby.
Rh isoimmunization
› In Emergency- O Rh negative blood without crossmatching.
› In anticipated Rh sensitized infant birth- O Rh negative blood
crossmatched against maternal serum.
37. Criterions for Blood exchange transfusion :
1. Transfuse blood as fresh as possible.
2. Maintained at a temperature between 35 and 37° C throughout the
exchange transfusion.
3. Kept well mixed and by gentle squeezing or agitation of the bag to
avoid sedimentation.
38. Types of exchange transfusion
Three types of exchange transfusion are commonly used:
A) Two- volume exchange
B) Partial exchange ( For treatment polycythemia or anemia )
C) Intrauterine exchanges
A one volume exchange transfusion results in removal of 70% to 75% of the
neonates RBC.
A two volume exchange replaces 90% the optimal volume for an exchange
transfusion is twice the infant’s blood volume.
40. Contd..
Traditionally, the rule of “10/30” was followed for RBC transfusion, according to
which a Hb level of 10 g/dl or a hematocrit of 30% was recommended in
surgical patients.
Blood components must be transfused within 4 hours of issue.
If the transfusion is interrupted for any reason, administration must be discontinued
after 4 hours even if the transfusion is not complete.
41. Complications of exchange transfusion
1. Anemia
2. Cholestasis
3. Inspissated bile syndrome
4. Portal vein thrombosis
5. Portal hypertension
42. DRUGS to treat neonatal jaundice
Phenobarbitone - Induces liver enzymes-increases conjugation
Metalloporphyrins- Inhibits heme oxygenase
IVIG- Inhibits hemolysis
Oral agar agar &cholestyramine- decreases entero-hepatic circulation
Albumin infusions-increases bilirubin binding
43. Metalloporphyrins
Metalloporphyrins are inhibitors of the rate-limiting enzyme,
heme oxygenase, in the pathway of heme degradation leading to
bilirubin production.
Tin mesoporphyrin has been most extensively studied in
human infants and has been shown to reduce the need for
phototherapy.
44. Kernicterus
Kernicterus is damage to the brain centers of infants
caused by increased levels of unconjugated-indirect
bilirubin which is free (not bound to albumin).
45. Journal Review
Hyperbilirubinemia in Neonates: Types, Causes, Clinical Examinations, Preventive Measures and Treatments: A Narrative
Review Article
2016(May) -Sana ULLAH,1 Khaista RAHMAN,2 and Mehdi HEDAYATI3,*
Methods - The main databases including Scopus, Pubmed, MEDLINE, Google scholar and Science Direct were researched to
obtain the original papers related to the newborns’ hyperbilirubinemia. The main terms used to literature search were
“newborns’ hyperbilirubinemia”, “newborns’ jaundice”, “Physiological Jaundice” and “Patholigical Jaundice”.
Results - Neonatal jaundice due to breast milk feeding is also sometimes observed. Hemolytic jaundice occurs because of
the incompatibility of blood groups with ABO and Rh factors, when the fetus and mother blood groups are not compatible
and the fetus blood crosses the barrier of the umbilical cord before birth causing fetus blood hemolysis owing to severe
immune response.
Conclusion: Jaundice is easily diagnosable however require quick and on the spot treatment. If not treated properly, it leads
to many complications. Currently the treatment options for jaundice include photo therapy, chemotherapy, and vaccinations.