Can anesthesiologic strategies for caesarean section influence newborn jaundice? A retrospective and prospective study

Bilirubin Production Is Increased in Newborn Mice Exposed to Isoflurane

BACKGROUND

Increased bilirubin production due to hemolysis can lead to severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and, if left untreated, to bilirubin neurotoxicity. Post-cardiac surgery newborns have been shown to be at an increased risk for developing hyperbilirubinemia and also hemolysis. Isoflurane (ISO), a volatile anesthetic agent routinely used in newborn surgery, has been reported to upregulate heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) expression. HO is the rate-limiting enzyme in the bilirubin production pathway.

OBJECTIVE

Here, we evaluated whether ISO exposure induces HO-1 and further increases bilirubin production in a hemolytic newborn mouse model.

METHODS

Three-day-old newborn mice were exposed to 2% ISO for 18 min or air. Liver HO activity and HO-1 protein were measured after exposure to ISO. Next, we evaluated the effect of ISO exposure on bilirubin production as indexed by the total body excretion rate of carbon monoxide following heme loading.

RESULTS

ISO significantly increased liver HO activity 120% and 116% at 24 and 48 h, respectively, after exposure. HO-1 protein levels also similarly increased after ISO exposure, but the increases were not statistically significant compared with controls. After heme loading, ISO-exposed pups had significantly higher bilirubin production rates (1.24-fold), and also peaked earlier, than age-matched nonexposed pups.

CONCLUSIONS

ISO exposure can induce HO-1 expression in the liver and may explain the development of severe hyperbilirubinemia in postsurgical infants, especially in those undergoing hemolysis.

Does anaesthesia in mothers during delivery affect bilirubin levels in their neonates?

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Late Preterm and Term Birth: Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia and Birth Model

AIM

To evaluate the mode of delivery's influence on development of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in term or near term infants.

METHODS

The hyperbilirubinemic neonates were divided into two groups according to their mode of delivery (i.e., vaginal or cesarean). The birth weight and gestational age at the time of birth, the age of the neonates in days, and the serum levels of bilirubin of the neonates at the time of hyperbilirubinemia were compared from the date of hospitalization until treatment, based on the birth model.

RESULTS

288 were fulfilled the inclusion criteria during the neonatal period. The vaginal delivery group consisted of 157 infants (16.8%) with hyperbilirubinemia, whereas the cesarean group included 131 (22.6%) infants with hyperbilirubinemia. Neonates in the cesarean group had a significantly higher rate of hyperbilirubinemia (p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that compared with vaginal births, cesarean births led to higher rates of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Factors affecting bilirubin levels during first 48 hours of life in healthy infants

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship of delivery type, maternal anesthesia, feeding modalities, and first feeding and meconium passage times with early bilirubin levels of healthy infants.

METHODS

Cord, 24 hours' and 48 hours' total bilirubin levels were measured in 388 study infants.

RESULTS

Infants born with cesarean section were fed later and more often had mixed feeding. First meconium passage was delayed with general anesthesia. Cord, 24 and 48 hours' bilirubin levels were not correlated with first feeding time, meconium passage time, mode of delivery, existence and type of anesthesia, and feeding modalities. Being in high intermediate risk zone at 72 hours of Bhutani's nomogram was only related to first feeding time and high cord bilirubin level. Late preterm infants were more frequently born with cesarean section and offered supplementary formula. Therefore, first meconium passage times and bilirubin levels were similar in the late preterm and term infants.

CONCLUSIONS

Type of delivery or anesthesia, late prematurity, feeding modalities, and first meconium passage time were not related to early bilirubin levels in healthy neonates, but delayed first feeding and high cord bilirubin levels were related to be in higher risk zone for later hyperbilirubinemia.

Effect of anaesthetic agents administered to the mothers on transcutaneous bilirubin levels in the neonates

AIM

To investigate the effect of anaesthetic agents on transcutaneous bilirubin levels during the first 24 h in neonates delivered by caesarean section.

METHODS

A total of 168 neonates delivered by caesarean section, during which sevoflurane was used for general anaesthesia (group A), bupivacaine for spinal anaesthesia (group B), levobupivacaine for epidural anaesthesia (group C) and 155 neonates delivered vaginally were included in the study. Transcutaneous bilirubin levels (TBLs) of infants were measured during the first 24 h and compared with each other.

RESULTS

The TBLs in neonates delivered vaginally were higher than those delivered by caesarean section, but the difference was not significant. TBLs were higher in groups A and C than in group B (p = 0.034, p = 0.011 respectively). TBLs were higher in group C than in group A, but the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). When the groups were compared with vaginal delivery group, TBLs in groups A and C were found higher (p = 0.03, p = 0.022 respectively).

CONCLUSION

The route of delivery had no effect on TBL. While bupivacaine was found to have no effect on neonatal bilirubin levels, levobupivacaine increased neonatal biluribin levels, but further studies are needed for definite results.

Different anesthesiologic strategies have no effect on neonatal jaundice

OBJECTIVE

In this prospective study, we examined the influence of either segmental epidural anesthesia with bupivocaine hydrochloride or general anesthesia with sevoflurane on serum bilirubin levels and jaundice in neonates born with caesarean section.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The patients at 38-40 weeks were included into this prospective study. General anesthesia group (sevoflurane); Group A, (n=66) and segmental epidural anesthesia group (bupivocaine hydrochloride); Group B, (n=76) underwent caesarean section under elective circumstances. Neonatal serum bilirubin levels were determined at the ages of 24 h and 5 days in 142 infants. The sexuality, weight, 5th minute APGAR scores, hematocrit levels of the neonates were recorded. The neonates who needed phototherapy were also noted. The results in Group A and Group B were compared.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference on bilirubin levels between two groups and the incidence of hyperbilirubinemia did not differ statistically (p>0.05). The percent of the newborns who needed phototherapy displayed no significant differences between the deliveries by caesarean section under general or segmental epidural anesthesia.

CONCLUSION

Our findings support the clinical studies which have not demonstrated an association between different anesthesiologic strategies and neonatal jaundice.