It is likely that you have heard the terms jaundiced and/or bilirubin. And although it is very common for infants to develop elevated bilirubin levels otherwise known as hyperbilirubinemia, do you actually know or understand why? 

As a NICU provider, I think it is essential that parents know the condition their infant is facing, but it is also important to understand the why behind its occurrence. If you do not understand the why, the treatment plan will also not make very much sense to you. I believe parents should be actively involved and partners in their baby’s care. But, it is nearly impossible to be actively engaged in the decision-making process if you do not understand the why behind the condition.  

For our 32nd podcast episode, I break down how our bodies process bilirubin, how we eliminate it, what causes the skin color to become jaundiced, why we as neonatal clinicians monitor bilirubin levels so closely, and I also review some of the common conditions that increase your infant’s risk of developing hyperbilirubinemia. 

Some of the pathophysiology of hyperbilirubinemia can be confusing, but I review it in a way that will make sense to you so you can learn why elevated bilirubin levels occur, and even more importantly, understand your baby’s treatment plan.

The review will also be very beneficial for novice NICU clinicians or those that need a refresher on the pathophysiology of hyperbilirubinemia in term and preterm infants. So let’s get to it!


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