APPLICATION OF BILI LIGHT

DEFINITION • Bili lights refer to

a type of
phototherapy
that is used to
treat newborn
jaundice, a
yellow coloring
of the skin and
eyes related to
immature liver
function.
• Phototherapy is
performed on
infants who have
increased levels of
bilirubin in the
blood. Bilirubin is
a yellow pigment
that's created in
the body during
the normal
recycling of old
red blood cells.
• The eyes are covered to
protect them from the bright
light. The blue fluorescent
"bili" lamps give off specific
wavelengths of light that
help break down bilirubin
into different forms that can
leave the body through the
urine and stools.
• Phototherapy
involves the
exposure of bare
skin to fluorescent
light. The newborn
(without clothes or
in a small diaper) is
placed under the
fluorescent lights.
  
An infant is continuously exposed to
specialized light such as quarts halogen,
cool white daylight, or special blue
fluorescent light
 
The lights are placed 12 to 30 inches above
the newborn’s bassinet or incubator
 
 The infant is undressed except for a
diaper so as much skin surface as
possible is exposed to the light
 
Term newborns are generally scheduled
for phototherapy when the total
bilirubin level rises to 15mg/dl at 25 to
28 hours of age; preterm infants may
have treatment begun at levels as low
as 10 to 12mg/dl
  Continuous exposure to bright lights
this way may be harmful to the
newborn’s retina, so the infant’s eyes
must always be covered while under
bilirubin lights
 
Assess skin turgor and intake and output
to ensure that dehydration is not
occurring