PHOTOTHERAPY

FREQUENCY OF HYPOCALCEMIA IN NEONATES UNDERGOING IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN FAISALABAD

Abstract

Hyperbilirubinemia is the most common abnormal physical finding in first few
weeks of lif and its most common management is phototherapy. Amongst other common
complications a less known complication of phototherapy is hypocalcemia. Objectives: To study
the incidence of phototherapy induced hypocalcemia in neonates and to have a comparison
between preterm and term neonates. Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.
Setting: Paediatric Unit II DHQ Hospital Faisalabad, which is a tertiary care centre for all kind of
patients. Duration of study with dates: Six months from 1-11-2012 to 30-04-2013. Methods:
196 neonates with hyperbilirubinemia full term / preterm neonates admitted in pediatric DHQ
hospital faislabad were selected. Inclusion criteria. 1) Hyperbilirubinemia. 2) No hypocalcemia
on admission. 3) Received phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia. Serum Calcium levels were
measured in all neonates before and 48 hours after receiving phototherapy. Incidence of
hypocalcemia among all neonates was calculated as an absolute percentage and the sample
population was also divided into preterm / full term neonates to evaluate the incidence of
hypocalcemia in these two groups individually. RESULTS: Mean serum calcium in neonates
was 7.5+- 1.5 mg / dl .16.84 % of neonates were found to have calcium level below the cut off
value. 33 out of 196 developed hypocalcemia after phototherapy and out of these 54 % were
preterm and 45 % were term neonates < P-value (0.01)>. Conclusion: Phototherapy induces
hypocalcemia in neonates more so in preterm neonates. Impact: Consideration for additional
calcium supplementation should be undertaken in all neonates undergoing phototherapy and
further randomized trials need to be done with these concerns.