Phototherapy to Prevent Severe Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia in the Newborn Infant 35 or More Weeks of Gestation: Technical Report

Summary

This AAP technical report summarises the principles and practical application of phototherapy for infants of 35 or more weeks' gestation, aligned with the 2022 AAP hyperbilirubinaemia clinical practice guideline. It reviews phototherapy devices available in the United States, including LED, fluorescent, halogen and fibreoptic light sources. Key themes are the wide variation in device efficacy, the importance of light wavelength matched to the bilirubin absorption spectrum, adequate irradiance and maximal exposed body surface area. It also emphasises accurate irradiance measurement with appropriately calibrated meters.

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