Exchange transfusion for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: A multicenter, prospective study of Turkish Neonatal Society

• Published in: Turk Pediatri Arsivi 2021-03, Vol.56 (2), p.121-126
• Main Authors: Okulu, Emel, Erdeve, Ömer, Tuncer, Oğuz, Ertuğrul, Sabahattin, Özdemir, Hülya, Çiftdemir, Nukhet Aladağ, Zenciroğlu, Ayşegül, Atasay, Begüm
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 2757-6256; 1306-0015; 2757-6256
• DOI: 10.14744/TurkPediatriArs.2020.65983

The frequency of neonatal exchange transfusion has declined in recent years, but is still performed in many countries. The procedure is associated with complications. The aim of the study was to determine the clinical features and etiologies of infants with hyperbilirubinemia who underwent exchange transfusion and evaluate the adverse events and clinical outcomes. We performed a secondary analysis of the multicenter Turkish Neonatal Jaundice Online Registry data. Otherwise healthy newborns born ≥35 weeks of gestation who were hospitalized for jaundice and underwent exchange transfusion were included. One-hundred thirty-two patients with a mean serum bilirubin level on admission of 24.9±9.1 mg/dL were enrolled in the study. The most common cause for exchange transfusion was hemolytic jaundice (63.6%), followed by lack of proper feeding (12.9%). It was found that the infants with lack of proper feeding were discharged earlier from the maternity ward (p=0.02), but they were admitted to hospital later (p