Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: October | Volume: 8 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 203-208
A Study to Compare Clinical Signs of Physiological Jaundice with Transcutaneous Bilirubin Estimation among Neonates in a Selected Hospital in Mangaluru
Sandra Jyothi Saldanha1, Jubee Joseph2, Maria Sunny3, Rose Mary Jojo3, Melita Laviya Pinto3, Mariya Simon3
1MSc (N), Lecturer/Assistant Nursing Superintendent, Department of Child Health Nursing. Mangalore-Karnataka, India
2MSc (N), Lecturer/Assistant Nursing Superintendent, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Father Muller College of Nursing, Mangalore-Karnataka, India
3BSc (N), Father Muller College of Nursing. Mangalore-Karnataka, India
Corresponding Author: Sandra Jyothi Saldanha
ABSTRACT
Physiological jaundice in neonates is known to be one of the most common clinical conditions. Although it is known to be often harmless yet needs monitoring to prevent complications such as kernicterus. It is important to monitor the neonate’s bilirubin levels in order to prevent hyperbilirubinemia. The bilirubin levels can be measured through invasive (serum analysis) and non invasive measures (clinical signs and transcutaneous bilirubin estimation).
Aims: The present study aimed at assessing the physiological jaundice among neonates with clinical signs using Cramer’s rule and further comparing with transcutaneous bilirubinometer reading.
Methodology: The study was conducted among 48 neonates in the postnatal wards of Father Muller Medical College Hospital using purpose sampling technique. The samples were selected based on the inclusion criteria. The bilirubin levels of the neonates were assessed for two consecutive days. The compiled data was analyzed in terms of objectives using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results: The mean value of bilirubin on day 2 by clinical assessment method was 8.66 ± 3.27 and of transcutaneous bilirubin value was 8.57 ± 2.89; and the mean value on day 3 by clinical assessment was 8.58 ± 3.05 and of transcutaneous bilirubin value was 8.79 ± 3.20 respectively. On compilation and analysis of data to find the difference between two methods of assessment, the obtained t value of clinical signs and transcutaneous bilirubinometer readings was 0.19 and 0.66 on two consecutive days and were not significant at p < 0.05 level. Hence the study findings showed that there is no statistical difference between clinical assessment and transcutaneous bilirubin estimation.
Key words: Physiological jaundice, clinical signs, transcutaneous bilirubin estimation, transcutaneous bilirubinometer.