Hyperbilirubinemia and Kernicterus

Hyperbilirubinemia is an elevated level of bilirubin in the blood and often causes newborn jaundice. Many cases are mild, but very high or rapidly rising bilirubin can enter brain tissue and cause acute bilirubin encephalopathy. Permanent bilirubin-related brain injury is called kernicterus. A legal investigation considers bilirubin measurements, age in hours, risk factors, feeding, follow-up, phototherapy, exchange transfusion, symptoms, and whether timely care would probably have prevented injury.