Management of hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants in Turkey

Background/aim: Prematurity is a significant risk factor for developing unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. This study investigated the current approach to managing hyperbilirubinemia in preterm newborns in Turkey. Materials and methods: A study-specific questionnaire on the management of jaundice in preterm infants was sent to 100 level III neonatal intensive care units in Turkey. Results: Responses were obtained from 84 centers from all regions of Turkey. Of the centers, 75.3% used the Turkish Neonatology Society guidelines for deciding to start phototherapy, and 24.7% used different guidelines. The monitoring of bilirubin varied among the participants. Of the participants, 53.6% believed that prophylactic phototherapy was necessary if the infant's birth weight was below 1000 g. The participants reported 6 cases of kernicterus in preterm infants in recent years. Conclusion: There is no single standard approach for managing neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants in Turkey. Prophylactic phototherapy for extremely low birth-weight infants might be added to the guidelines for Turkey.