RESUMO
The transcutaneous bilirubinometer was evaluated in 43 white infants, eight black infants, and in nine white infants treated with phototherapy. The reproducibility of the instruments was determined after trials consisting of both five and 100 repetitions. Among the infants not being treated with phototherapy, TcB index and serum bilirubin concentration correlated at 0.90 level in both white and black infants. Phototherapy reduced the accuracy of the TcB and, at the present time, the use of this index in infants under light therapy cannot be recommended. Otherwise the TcB is a valuable tool in screening healthy term infants for hyperbilirubinemia.
Assuntos
Bilirrubina/sangue , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Monitorização FisiológicaRESUMO
We studied the changes in PO2 during 72 isolated episodes of apnea of prematurity in 20 low-birth-weight infants. A stable PO2 prior to the onset of apnea was observed in 65% of the episodes. A falling PO2 was noted in only 18% of the cases. The mean initial PO2 was 75 mm Hg and no infant was hypoxic (PO2less than 40 mm Hg) immediately prior to apnea. The mean PO2 fell to 60 mm Hg at the end of apnea and continued to fall to a mean low PO2 of 46 mm Hg. The mean PO2 at recovery was 79 mm Hg. We concluded that in this group of premature infants, hypoxia is not the initiating even in the apnea of prematurity. Furthermore, we noted that arterial oxygen tension continues to fall despite the reestablishment of respiratory efforts, that the rate of recovery from apnea is slower than the rate of fall, and that bradycardia associated with apnea is not initiated by hypoxemia.
Assuntos
Apneia/sangue , Doenças do Prematuro/sangue , Oxigênio/sangue , Apneia/etiologia , Apneia/fisiopatologia , Frequência Cardíaca , Humanos , Hipóxia/complicações , Recém-Nascido de Baixo Peso , Recém-Nascido , RespiraçãoRESUMO
A controlled trial of the use of intermittent phototherapy for the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia in newborn infants is reported. Periods of illumination of (1) 15 minutes light on, 15 minutes light off, (2) 15 minutes on, 30 minutes off, and (3) 15 minutes on, 60 minutes off are as effective as is continuous illumunation. A comparison with previous trials of intermittent phototherapy is made and differences in results are explained using as a model the action of light on bilirubin.