Computerized decision-making assistance for managing neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

Clinical decision support in the neonatal ICU

Clinical Decision Support (CDS) tools help the healthcare team diagnose, monitor, and treat patients more efficiently and consistently by executing clinical practice guidelines and recommendations. As a result, CDS has a direct impact on the delivery and healthcare outcomes. This review covers the fundamental concepts, as well as the infrastructure needed to create a CDS tool and examples of its use in the neonatal setting. This article also serves as a primer on what to think about when proposing the development of a new CDS tool, or when upgrading an existing one. We also highlight important elements that influence CDS development, such as informatics methodologies, data and device interoperability, and regulation.

Bhutani-based nomograms for the prediction of significant hyperbilirubinaemia using transcutaneous measurements of bilirubin

AIM

Prospectively establish the relationship between transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) and total serum bilirubin (TSB), and develop nomograms similar to Bhutani's nomograms, based on our TcB data.

METHODS

Our study sample was from a total population of 1069 infants, near term and term healthy newborns, admitted during 2.5 month period of the study. TSB was performed on all infants who were felt to be clinically jaundiced. Before obtaining the TSB, a TcB was performed (Jaundice Meter Minolta/Draeger JM-103). Measurements were performed on two sites: forehead and mid-sternum, and the mean of both measurements was calculated.

RESULTS

A total of 1091 paired measurements were obtained from 628 infants. Linear regression showed a significant relation between TSB and TcB (R(2) of 0.846). In multiple regression analysis, all independent variables studied, i.e. gestational age (or birthweight), age at sampling and ethnicity had a negligible influence on the relationship. We subsequently developed our local-nomograms of hour-specific mean TcB with 40, 75 and 95 percentile lines.

CONCLUSIONS

In our local settings and population, we found a reliable correlation between laboratory measurements of TSB and TcB. We were able to develop our local-Bhutani-based TcB nomograms for screening babies during hospital stay and pre-discharge for assessing the risk of hyperbilirubinaemia.

Management of jaundice and prevention of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in infants >or=35 weeks gestation

Kernicterus is still occurring but should be largely preventable if health care personnel follow the recommendations listed in this guideline. These recommendations emphasize the importance of universal, systematic assessment of the risk of severe hyperbilirubinemia, lactation support, close follow-up, and prompt intervention when necessary. A systems-based approach to prevent severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia should be implemented at all birthing facilities and coordinated with continuing ambulatory care. Translational research is needed to better understand the mechanisms of bilirubin neurotoxicity and potential therapeutic interventions.