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Irradiance levels of phototherapy devices: a national study in Dutch neonatal intensive care units

Journal of Perinatology volume 37, pages 839–842 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

The objective of this study is to determine whether irradiance levels of phototherapy (PT) devices in Dutch neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) increased between 2008 and 2013.

Study Design:

Irradiance of all types of PT devices, used in combination with incubators, was measured with a Dale 40 Radiometer (Fluke Biomedical, Everett, WA, USA) in all 10 Dutch NICUs.

Results:

Irradiance increased in seven NICUs. Median (range) irradiance increased from 9.7 (4.3–32.6) to 16.4 (6.8–41) μW cm−2 nm−1 for 24 overhead devices (P=0.004) and from 6.8 (0.8–15.6) to 22.3 (1.1–36.3) μW cm−2 nm−1 for 12 underneath devices (P=0.014). Five light-emitting diode (LED)-based devices were used in 2013 and one in 2008. The mean distance between overhead PT device and infant decreased by ~9 cm (P<0.001). Significantly more devices delivered minimal (10 μW cm−2 nm−1) recommended irradiance levels (80 vs ~45%; P=0.002).

Conclusion:

Irradiance of PT devices still varies, but has markedly improved since 2008 due to shorter distances between PT device and infant, and introduction of better performing LED-based devices.

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Acknowledgements

The BARTtrial Study Group members are:

MJNL Benders, MD, PhD. Division of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht.

J Buijs, MD. Department of Pediatrics, Maxima Medical Center Veldhoven

J Dudink, MD, PhD. Department of Neonatology, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam.

DE van Imhoff, MD, PhD; PH Dijk, MD, PhD; CV Hulzebos, MD, PhD. Department of Neonatology, Beatrix Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen

CR Laarman, MD. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam.

KD Liem, MD, PhD. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen.

RA van Lingen, MD, PhD. Division of Neonatology, Princess Amalia Department of Pediatrics, Isala Clinics, Zwolle.

E Lopriore, MD, PhD. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Leiden University Medical Center.

ALM Mulder, MD, PhD. Department of Pediatrics, Maastricht University Medical Center, GROW-School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht.

L van Toledo-Eppinga, MD, PhD. Department of Neonatology, Emma Children’s Hospital, Academic Medical Center University of Amsterdam.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, University Medical Center Groningen, Beatrix Children’s Hospital, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    C V Hulzebos, S J van't Klooster, K Lorenz & P H Dijk

  2. Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    H J Vreman

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  1. C V Hulzebos
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  3. K Lorenz
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  5. P H Dijk
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On behalf of the BARTrial Study Group

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Correspondence to C V Hulzebos.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Hulzebos, C., van't Klooster, S., Lorenz, K. et al. Irradiance levels of phototherapy devices: a national study in Dutch neonatal intensive care units. J Perinatol 37, 839–842 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2017.13

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