Book Description
Most Quebec hospitals have undertaken to reduce the length of postpartum stays, with discharge generally taking place about 48 hours after a normal, uncomplicated vaginal delivery. In this context, special attention must be given to the problem of hyperbilirubinemia. (CETS) examined the usefulness of providing each region in Quebec with transcutaneous bilirubinometers. These devices are used to screen for the presence of jaundice in newborns, a sign of an elevated blood bilirubin level. This report evaluates the performance of these devices. In conclusion, transcutaneous bilirubinometry can contribute effectively to detecting cases where a serum bilirubin determination is required. This can be very useful if this technology is part of a well-established perinatal program that includes a systematic follow-up visit to the mother and newborn shortly after discharge. However, based on its analysis, CETS cannot recommend a wide-scale program for the systematic purchase of transcutaneous bilirubinometers.