Question
During premarital examination, the doctor pointed out that the blood types of both partners are incompatible, which may lead to high bilirubin levels in newborns and consequently hemolytic disease. Currently, the newborn’s bilirubin levels are elevated, and parents want to know whether blood transfusion treatment is necessary for the newborn in this situation?
Answer
If the newborn’s bilirubin level is only mild, it is usually recommended to reduce jaundice by increasing sun exposure, promoting infant movement, and supplementing fluids. However, for newborns with severe jaundice and life-threatening conditions, blood transfusion is a common treatment method. When the indirect bilirubin level in the serum exceeds 20mg/dL (342μmol/L), blood transfusion is usually required. In this process, normal blood will be extracted from blood donors with the same blood type as the newborn and infused into the newborn’s body to dilute the bilirubin content within them and accelerate metabolism.