Fiberoptic phototherapy of neonatal jaundice. Comments to a Cochrane report

Twenty-four studies filled the inclusion criteria for a Cochrane report on the use of fiberoptic phototherapy for neonatal jaundice. Fiberoptic phototherapy lowers serum bilirubin and may have a place in the treatment of neonatal jaundice. In term and near-term infants fiberoptic phototherapy is inferior to conventional phototherapy, whereas in premature infants the effects are comparable. A better effect is achieved when conventional and fiberoptic phototherapy are combined as compared to conventional phototherapy alone. Fiberoptic phototherapy has not been shown to interfere less with parent-infant bonding than conventional phototherapy. There continues to be a great need for research concerning phototherapy for neonatal jaundice.