1. This patient is a 2-day old infant, delivered at term after spontaneous labour and a forceps assisted delivery. The infant has been feeding well (breast) but has been observed to be jaundiced. Plasma bilirubin analysis has been requested and the results are as follows:
Sample: Serum Result Reference Range Units
Total Bilirubin 240 Up to 21 mol/L
Unconjugated 60 Up to 21 mol/L
fraction
a) Consider the pathological significance of these results and provide a detailed rationale as to how we could reassure the parents that this might be a benign finding. (50 marks)
b) Contrast this with a detailed account of how neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia could relate to more significant causes and what additional laboratory tests would have to be employed to discover this. (50 marks)
Instructions to authors
As a general rule for these case study assignments, it is important to remember that credit is gained not only for a correct final diagnosis, but for an answer that contains a careful analysis and logical explanations of the sequence of laboratory tests performed and expected results.
There is a word limit which requires a very succinct analysis and response; the aim of this is to judge a student’s proficiency in selecting key information and presenting arguments and analysis concisely and clearly.
To allow for concise responses to be made there is no need to frame answers within a ‘traditional’ essay style structure- specific questions are usually posed and can be addressed directly in order, e.g. using the specific questions set as sub-headings or sections.
Information sources should be referenced in the usual way; unnecessary references will not gain you credit, and poor/inappropriate use of references may indicate poor judgement in referencing skills. References are not included as part of the word count BUT should be presented according to the PABS referencing guide.
The word limit is 1500 WORDS per case and MUST be stated at the end of your work.
Deadline for submission for is Wednesday 20th January at 14:00pm
