Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia and Hypoglycemia

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the neonate hyperbilirubinemia and hypoglycemia section of the lecture notes.

Hyperbilirubinemia

High bilirubin levels in a newborn that can cause jaundice, largely due to an immature liver and increased breakdown of red blood cells.

Jaundice

Yellowing of the skin and eyes caused by elevated bilirubin; common in newborns and not exclusive to disease.

Bilirubin

Pigment produced from the breakdown of hemoglobin in damaged red blood cells; accumulation causes jaundice.

Immature liver

Newborn liver not fully functional yet, impacting bilirubin processing, waste filtering, and clotting.

Polycythemia

High circulating red blood cells, increasing the amount of bilirubin produced from RBC breakdown.

ABO incompatibility

Mismatch between maternal and fetal blood types causing increased red blood cell destruction and bilirubin production.

Rh incompatibility

Rh antigen incompatibility leading to fetal hemolysis and higher bilirubin risk.

Cephalohematoma

Blood collection under the scalp that does not cross suture lines; birth trauma that can raise bilirubin levels.

Physiological jaundice

Common neonatal jaundice seen in many healthy newborns, usually mild and resolving by about day 7–14.

Pathological jaundice

Jaundice with higher bilirubin, earlier onset (often within 24 hours), and longer duration, suggesting an underlying issue.

Transcutaneous bilirubin testing (TCB/TCV)

Noninvasive screening method to estimate bilirubin via skin; used to determine if serum bilirubin testing is needed.

Serum bilirubin

Bilirubin level measured from a blood sample to confirm and quantify jaundice.

Phototherapy

Treatment with blue LED lights to convert bilirubin into water-soluble forms for excretion; requires eye and genital protection and positional changes.

BiliLights

Phototherapy lights used to treat neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

Kernicterus

Chronic bilirubin encephalopathy; bilirubin deposition in the brain causing irreversible neurological deficits if bilirubin remains high.

Acute bilirubin encephalopathy

Immediate neurological dysfunction from very high bilirubin levels, potentially progressing to kernicterus.

Exchange transfusion

A procedure to rapidly reduce bilirubin by removing and replacing a portion of the baby’s blood when phototherapy is insufficient.

Early feeding

Prompt initiation of feeding to promote bilirubin excretion and reduce hyperbilirubinemia risk.

Sibling phototherapy

Having a prior sibling who received phototherapy; listed as a risk factor for hyperbilirubinemia.

Breastfeeding as a risk factor

Breastfeeding-related jaundice; inadequate intake or lactation issues can contribute to higher bilirubin.

Hypoglycemia

Low blood glucose in a neonate, a common complication alongside hypothermia.

Hyperinsulinemia

Excess insulin in the newborn, often from maternal diabetes or macrosomia, which can cause or worsen hypoglycemia after birth.

Macrosomia

Large-for-gestational-age baby; body size increases risk of neonatal hypoglycemia due to higher insulin production.

Diabetic mother

Mother with diabetes; increases neonatal hypoglycemia risk because fetal insulin may be elevated after birth."

Premature baby

Early-born infant with limited glycogen stores, increasing risk of neonatal hypoglycemia.

Small for gestational age (SGA)

Baby smaller than expected for gestational age, associated with reduced glycogen stores and hypoglycemia risk.

Glycogen stores

Stored glucose in the liver that powers the newborn’s energy needs after birth; depleted quickly, contributing to hypoglycemia.

Hyperinsulinemia and hypoglycemia mechanism

Excess insulin after birth (often from diabetic mothers or macrosomia) plus limited glycogen stores leads to low blood sugar.