ABSTRACT
Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy is as efficacious as compact fluorescent tube (CFT) phototherapy for the treatment of non-hemolytic jaundice in healthy term and late preterm neonates.Methods: Study design was open label randomized controlled trial conducted at tertiary care NICU. Healthy term and late preterm neonates with non-haemolytic jaundice included in the present study. Intervention was double-surface LED or CFT phototherapy. Primary outcome variable was duration of phototherapy.Results: A total of 60 neonates were randomized to receive LED (n=30) or CFT (n=30) phototherapy. The baseline demographic and biochemical variables were similar in the two groups. The median duration of phototherapy (Mean'SD) in the two groups was comparable (26.7'7.0) h vs (24.8'6.05) h, P=0.0.241). The rate of fall of serum total bilirubin (STB) during phototherapy in initial 6 hours was significantly more LED group (n=30), 3.43'0.65 versus (n=30) 2.22'0.55 with P-value of <0.001.Conclusions: LED and CFT phototherapy units were equally efficacious in the management of non-haemolytic hyperbilirubinemia in healthy term and late-preterm neonates.' Side effects were rare, comparable in the two groups and included only rash.