ALVES, L. F.; CATUNDA. S. B.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/8615902149888988; http://lattes.cnpq.br/4942491863397997; ALVES, Lívia Feitosa.; CATUNDA, Stephanie Bento.
Abstract:
INTRODUCTION: Phototherapy has been universally most widely used way to treat
neonatal jaundice, and the correct management, as well as adequate devices and
lamps with continuous monitoring of their irradiances, are of fundamental
importance for effective phototherapy in the treatment of jaundice, reducing the
length of hospitalization and the risk of brain damage. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the
effectiveness of phototherapy devices used in newborns at Instituto Cândida Vargas
(ICV) through the standardized measurement of the irradiance. STUDY DESIGN:
This is a descriptive cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach. To measure
the 17 phototherapy devices, a THOR Multitester 3620 photodosimeter was used,
calibrated directly in microwatts per square centimeters per nanometer (mw / cm2 /
nm). RESULTS: 17 phototherapy devices, 16 Bilispot® and 1 Biliberço®, were
analyzed. The mean irradiance of the devices was 2.95 μW/cm²/nm ± 1.42. The
Bilispot®-type devices presented a variation of 0.97 to 5.32 μW/cm²/nm, average of
2.77 μW/cm²/nm; Biliberço® presented the highest irradiance among all analyzed
devices, with a value of 5.87 μW/cm²/nm. Only 17.64% of the devices had an
irradiance greater than 4 μW/cm²/nm. CONCLUSION: The majority of the devices
had irradiance below the minimum considered therapeutic, making evident the need
for a greater efficiency in the maintenance of phototherapy devices.