Publication:

Can pulse oxymetry be used as a routine screening tool in early diagnosis of critical congenital heart diseases in newborns?

Background Unrecognition or delayed diagnosis of severe congenital cardiac diseases (CCD) can lead to cardiac failure, cardiovascular collapse and death. Pulse oximetry can be used as a screening tool for detection of critical CCD (CCCD) in newborns. We conducted this study to correlate pulse oximetry findings in asymptomatic newborns to detect CCCD and coarctation of aorta.

Methods All babies delivered in our hospital were included; after clinical evaluation, pulse oximetry screening was done 12 hours after delivery, taken in three extremities (Right thumb, left thumb and left great toe). If the readings were 95% in 799 babies, there was no significant clinical findings, and were negative for pulse oxymetry screening; one baby had positive pulse oximetry screening (<95%) with ‘ejection systolic murmur’ over left 2nd and 3rd intercostal space. There was no evidence of cyanosis, oedema or tachypnoea. Pulse oximetry reading was 88% in right thumb, 90% in left thumb and 92% in left great great toe. Echocardiography showed Atrial Septal Defect, Ventricular Septal Defect with Pulmonary Stenosis.

Conclusions Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive, reliable, and useful screening tool for an early detection of CCCD in newborns. The combination of pulse oximetry and clinical judgement is needed.