PHOTOTHERAPY

COMPARISON OF NEW IMPROVISED VERSUS CONVENTIONAL METHODS AMONG NEONATES WITH JAUNDICE

Abstract

Objective: To compare mean duration of stay (in hours) of patients with new
improvised versus conventional methods of phototherapy among neonates with jaundice.
Study Design: Randomized control trial. Period: Six months. Setting: Neonatal ward,
Department of Paediatric Medicine, Lahore General Hospital, Lahore. Subjects and Methods:
160 patients, with the help of random number table, all the patients were randomly divided
into 2 groups A and B, after getting the informed consent from their parents. Group A patients
received conventional phototherapy. Group B patients received phototherapy with reflecting
mirrors placed beneath and at the side of the patient in baby’s cot (new improvised method
of phototherapy). Results: In this study the mean age of patients in group-A and group-B
was 2.70±1.13 days and 2.12±1.98 days respectively. In group-A there were 47 (58.75%)
male and 33 (41.25%) female patients while in group-B there were 51 (63.75%) male and 29
(36.25%) female patients. According to hospital stay, the mean hospital stay in group A was
39.76±11.80 hours and in group-B it was 44.90±14.21 hours, the mean hospital stay was
statistically significant (p<0.001) Conclusion: Shorter mean duration of stay (in hours) was
recorded in patients treated with new improvised as compared to conventional methods of
phototherapy among neonates with jaundice, the data is primary in our country, this technique
may be used further but after some more trials to confirm its efficacy regarding shorter duration
of hospital stay