Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)
Title
Academic Term
Summer 2015
Document Type
Project
Course Number
NURS 5330
Course Name
Advanced Pathophysiology
Professor’s Name
John D. Chovan, James R. Cacchillo
Keywords
Unconjugated Bilirubin, Newborns, ABO Incompatibility
Subject Categories
Medical Pathology | Medicine and Health Sciences | Nursing
Abstract
Neonatal jaundice is a common condition present in infants after birth. It is caused by elevated bilirubin in the blood. It can affect up to 84% of term infants and is one of the most common cause for hospital readmission for the neonatal department (Muchowski, 2014). It typically appears within 24 hours of life and is normally present in otherwise healthy newborns. Physiologic jaundice, also known as unconjugated bilirubin, is a normal process that happens in neonates because the hepatic system is not matured yet (Kirk, 2008). Majority of the time physiologic jaundice resolves on its own. Pathological jaundice, also known as conjugated bilirubin, in newborns is due to other reasons other than the normal pathologic process the newborn hepatic system goes through. It may be a result of endocrine or genetic disorders, which are considered to be rare (Kirk, 2008). A more common cause is due to ABO incompatibility. For the purpose of this poster the focus is going to be on pathologic elevated bilirubin specifically related to ABO incompatibility between mother and baby.
Recommended Citation
Contosta, Dianna, "Pathological Jaundice" (2015). Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN). 86.
https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/stu_msn/86