Sequential direct bilirubin values in preterm infants
摘要
We aim to describe sequential direct bilirubin levels in preterm infants and examine the outcomes of subsequent evaluation of direct hyperbilirubinemia.
Study designRetrospective electronic chart analysis of preterm infants admitted and surviving the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay was performed.
ResultA total of 127 preterm infants had 665 bilirubin measurements (333 direct bilirubin; 332 total bilirubin) during their first NICU stay. Before five days of age, twenty-seven (27/127, 21%) infants had abnormal direct bilirubin estimations. At fourteen days, three of these infants (3/27, 11%) had abnormal values. All three infants had further testing and more direct bilirubin estimations than their cohort. All infants had normal levels by discharge. Age-appropriate direct bilirubin values were based on those described by Feldman et al.
ConclusionAll preterm infants with elevated direct bilirubin had normal values by discharge.