English

Pulse oximetry screening for clinically unrecognized critical congenital heart disease in the newborns.

This article is from Images in Paediatric Cardiology , volume 9 . Abstract Aim:: To determine the incidence of clinically unrecognized critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) in the newborns by using pulse oximetric screening. Methods:: Pulse oximetry was performed on clinically normal newborns at 24-48 hours of age. If screening oxygen saturation (SpO2) was below 95%, echocardiography was then performed. Data regarding true and false positives as well as negatives were collected and analyzed. Results:: Pulse-oximetric screening was performed on 1847 clinically normal newborns. Low SpO2 (<95%) was found in three babies two of them had CCHD, including one with transposition of the great vessels, one with complete atrioventricular canal with moderate tricuspid regurgitation (sensitivity: 100%; specificity: 99.8%; positive predictive value: 100%; negative predictive value: 100%; accuracy: 99.8%). Conclusions:: In addition to routine physical examination in the newborn infants pulse oximetry may improve the early diagnosis CCHD in the newborn. If oxygen saturation in clinically normal newborns is below 95% at 24-48 hours of age, referral to a cardiology unit is suggested.

Sign in with your free account to read, download EPUBs or listen.