Exchange blood transfusion for hyperbilirubinaemia: Neonatal characteristics and short-term outcomes

Background. Factors that have been associated with severe hyperbilirubinaemia requiring exchange blood transfusion (EBT) are early discharge, late preterm birth and haemolytic disease. Early discharge is a common practice in neonatal care, so it important to identify audit neonates who received EBT, order modifiable factors. 
 Objectives. To describe the characteristics outcomes of infants EBT. Methods. We reviewed records admitted jaundice EBT from January 2009 December 2013. Descriptive analysis characteristics, clinical presentation, laboratory findings outcome at was performed. Results. A total 150 (30 per year), 101 were reviewed. Of these, 34 (33.7%) inpatients 67 (66.3%) new admissions (2.34/1 000 admissions). The majority born vaginally (86.1%), births (20.8%) exclusively breastfed (82.2%). median postnatal age presentation 5 days. Clinical signs suggestive acute bilirubin encephalopathy present 24.8% cases. Among mother-infant pairs known groups, 9.3% 70.4% had rhesus (Rh) ABO incompatibility, respectively. Coombs test positive 62.5% those Rh incompatibility compared 31.7% incompatibility. 6 patients (5.9%) died, all within 7 days but none during Conclusion. presented post after term, suggesting delivery. More than two-thirds cases related Screening for before must be prioritised, especially mothers negative or group O.