[Fototherapy of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Results of its clinical application (author's transl)].

The application of fototherapy according to the indications listed by Maisels (1972, Abb. 1) has brought about a 67% reduction in exchange transfusions in comparison to the controll period proceeding this new regimen. This reduction of the need of exchange transfusions was especially striking in cases of hyperbilirubinemia of full term babies without blood group incompatibilities and in A B O incompatibilities with mild hemolysis. In typical Rh-incompatibility the number of repeat exchange transfusions diminished by 75%. The serum bilirubin levels of 206 consecutive low birth weight infants were prospectively investigated. 77 infants (37%) reached a serum bilirubin level of 10 mg% and were treated with fototherapy. Only 9,6% of these lowbirth weight infants had maximum serumbilirubin levels of 12 mg% or more and only 1,5% had levels of 15 mg% or more. Fototherapy reduces the risk of Kernikterus in Low birth weight babies to a minimum and it can reduce the risks and the costs of treatment for many icteric full term babies by reducing the number exchange transfusions needed. Inspite of its simplicity and effectiveness it has to be stressed that fototherapy should only be used under well defined indications and in a technically correct way.