Phototherapy Using a Light-Emitting Fabric (BUBOLight) Device in the Treatment of Newborn Jaundice: Protocol for an Interventional Feasibility and Safety Study

Abstract

Background: Neonatal jaundice is a common condition occurring in 60%-80% of all healthy-term and late-preterm neonates. In the majority of cases, neonatal jaundice resolves spontaneously and causes no harm; however, in some neonates, significant hyperbilirubinemia can develop and lead to kernicterus jaundice, a serious neurological disease. Phototherapy (PT) is the preferred treatment for jaundice; however, to be effective, PT devices need to have a broad light emission surface to generate no or little heat and to provide an optimal wavelength and light intensity (420-490 nm and ≥30 µW/cm²/nm, respectively).

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the feasibility, safety, and level of satisfaction of parents and health care teams with the BUBOlight device, an innovative alternative to conventional hospital PT, in which luminous textiles have been incorporated in a sleeping bag.

Methods: This interventional, exploratory, simple group, nonrandomized, single-center trial will be conducted at Lille Hospital. In total, 10-15 neonates and their parents will be included to obtain evaluable data from 10 parent-neonate pairs. Neonates weighing more than 2500 g at birth and born with ≥37 weeks of amenorrhea that required PT in accordance with the guidelines of the National Institute For Health and Clinical Excellence will receive one 4-hour session of illumination. Total serum bilirubin and transcutaneous bilirubin levels were obtained at the start and 2 hours after the end of PT. Cutaneous and rectal temperatures, heart rate, and oxygen saturation will be measured at the beginning and during PT. The number of subjects is therefore not calculated on the basis of statistical assumptions. We aim to obtain a minimum proportion of 90% (ie, 9 of 10) of the neonates included, who have been able to undergo 4-hour PT without unacceptable and unexpected toxicities. We will calculate the mean, median, quartiles, minimum and maximum values of the quantitative parameters, and the frequency of the qualitative parameters. The rate of patients with no unacceptable and unexpected toxicities (ie, the primary endpoint) will be calculated.

Results: The first patient is expected to be enrolled at the end of 2020, and clinical investigations are intended for up to June 2021. The final results of this study are expected to be available at the end of 2021.

Conclusions: Our findings will provide insights into the safety and feasibility of a new PT device based on light-emitting fabrics for the treatment of newborn jaundice. This new system, if proven effective, will improve the humanization of neonatal care and help avoid mother-child separation.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04365998; https://ichgcp.net/clinical-trials-registry/NCT04365998.

International registered report identifier (irrid): PRR1-10.2196/24808.

Keywords: jaundice; light; light emitting fabrics; neonate; newborn jaundice; perinatal; phototherapy.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

©Fabienne Lecomte, Elise Thecua, Laurine Ziane, Pascal Deleporte, Alain Duhamel, Clémence Vamour, Serge Mordon, Thameur Rakza. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 25.05.2021.

Figures

Figure 1

Complete device and light source.

Figure 2

Light-emitting fabrics in the sleeping bag.

Figure 3

Study design and data collection.