Malleswari 1 , P. Ravi Kumar 2 , B. Sasi Kumar 3 , Muchukota Sushma 4
ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND: Neonatal hyperbilirubenemia is increased levels of bilirubin in the blood of neonates and it is an important cause of morbidity in the developing world. AIM: The study aims to assess and compare the safety as well as efficacy of Phototherapy alone and Phototherapy plus Phenobarbitone in neonatal hyperbilirubenemia. METHODOLOGY: This is a prospective observational study which was conducted in NICU of Government General Hospital, Anantapur. The study was carried out to assess the safety and efficacy of Group–A (Phototherapy alone) and Group–B (Phototherapy plus Phenobarbitone) in Neonatal hyperbilirubenemia. In both treatment A and treatment B groups, baseline characteristics were recorded and matched with each, later subjects are evaluated for outcome measures (Peak serum bilirubin levels, duration of phototherapy in hours), need of phototherapy and adverse drug effects) and safety measures (ADR profiles for Phototherapy as well as Phototherapy plus Phenobarbitone). All clinical outcome measures compared with each other by using paired T test to select best treatment option for clinical practice. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between Phototherapy as well as Phototherapy plus Phenobarbitone group in case of total, direct serum bilirubin levels before and after treatment as well as there is no difference in duration of phototherapy (24hrs,48hrs,72hrs) and for all remaining characteristics we calculated in terms of percentage, mean and standard deviation. The P value has no significance (>0.05) DISCUSSION: The neonates who have been Treated with Phenobarbitone had shown clinical features like Drowsiness and Dehydration with were been corrected by IV fluids and Artificial mother feed. Mono therapy (phototherapy) is alone sufficient when compared to the combination therapy (in treating cases with phototherapy plus Phenobarbitone). In the present study, no significant side effect of phototherapy was observed, and phototherapy was effective in decreasing bilirubin levels in both groups. CONCLUSION: Combination of phototherapy with Phenobarbitone did not produce any difference in bilirubin levels when compared to phototherapy alone throughout 72 hrs. But when safety profile is considered Phototherapy is best option, because Phenobarbitone has toxic ADR profile when compared with phototherapy alone.
