A Comparative Analysis of Intermittent and Continuous Phototherapy in Patients with Neonatal Jaundice

Aim: To compare the outcome of intermittent phototherapy versus continuous phototherapy in treatment of neonatal jaundice.

Study Design: Randomized clinical trial (RCT).

Place and Duration: This study was conducted at Department of pediatrics, neonatal ward, Liaquat university hospital Hyderabad/Jamshoro, from 8 January to 7 July 2020

Methodology: There were 222 neonate with jaundice, which were randomly allocated into two groups. One hundred and one neonates were in group “A” who received continuous phototherapy while 111 neonates were treated with intermittent phototherapy called group B. Phototherapy units were identical regarding their manufacture and radiance with 5 blue light tubes at a distance of 15-20 cm above neonate that produced the irradiance of 20µW/cm2/nm at 420-470 nm. Serum bilirubin levels were measured every 12 hourly after starting phototherapy up to 48 hours. SPSS version 22 was used for data analysis.

Results: The average age of the neonates was 2.23±1.45 days. In this study, the reduction of bilirubin level in both groups after 12, 24, 36, 48 hours of phototherapy and at the time of discharge was not different between groups.

Conclusion: Intermittent and continuous phototherapies were found to be equally effective. Because of its additional benefits, intermittent phototherapy can be adopted as a routine procedure instead of continuous phototherapy in neonatal care units, however, it needs to be confirmed by large scale RCTs.