The Cardiovascular
ToolsCalculators

Hour-specific risk for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (Bhutani nomogram)

Predischarge risk zone for subsequent significant hyperbilirubinemia.

Hour-specific risk for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (Bhutani nomogram)
Postnatal age
hours
Total serum (or transcutaneous) bilirubin
mg/dL
Complete the fields above to see the result.

When to use

  • Predischarge or early outpatient risk-stratification of an otherwise well newborn >=35 weeks' gestation to plan bilirubin follow-up timing.
  • Not intended for infants already receiving phototherapy or for those <35 weeks' gestation.

Formula

Plots total serum bilirubin against postnatal age (hours) on hour-specific 40th, 75th, and 95th percentile curves derived from 2,840 healthy near-term/term newborns; the risk zone is defined by the highest percentile curve the value equals or exceeds at that hour.

Pearls and pitfalls

  • Derived from a DAT-negative cohort of predominantly term/near-term newborns; use cautiously outside that population.
  • A high-risk zone value does not by itself mandate phototherapy — compare against separate hour-specific AAP phototherapy thresholds.

References

  1. Bhutani VK, Johnson L, Sivieri EM. Pediatrics. 1999;103(1):6-14.