Title: Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening to Detect Critical Congenital Heart Disease - HealthyChildren.org
Headings: Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening to Detect Critical Congenital Heart Disease
Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening to Detect Critical Congenital Heart Disease
What is pulse oximetry?
Fetal ultrasounds of the heart do not detect all types of heart defects.
How is this screening is done?
What happens a baby fails the pulse oximetry screening?
If a baby passes the pulse oximetry screening, does it mean he or she has no heart defects?
Even if a baby passes the pulse oximetry screening, parents should watch:
Additional Information & Resources:

Content: If a baby passes the pulse oximetry screening, does it mean he or she has no heart defects? Unfortunately, no. Pulse oximetry testing picks up only some types of CHD. Heart defects which are not causing a low blood oxygen level at the time of the screen are not picked up by the test. Even if a baby passes the pulse oximetry screening, parents should watch: How well their baby is feeding
Any difficulty in breathing
Increased irritability
Excessive sleepiness
Bluish color to the lips or skin
Grunting
Fast breathing
Poor weight gain
Parents are advised to contact their baby's doctor right away if they notice any of these signs. Additional Information & Resources: Newborn Screening Tests
Tests & Screenings During Pregnancy
Challenges Faced by Parents of Children with Congenital Heart Disease
Genetics and Congenital Heart Defects
Endorsement of Health and Human Services Recommendation​ for Pulse Oximetry Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease (AAP Policy Statement)
Association of U.S. State Implementation of Newborn Screening Policies for Critical Congenital Heart Disease with Early Infant Cardiac Deaths (JAMA, 2017)
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Article Body
Last Updated
2/11/2019
Source
AAP Section on Cardiology ＆ Cardiac Surgery (Copyright @ 2019 American Academy of Pediatrics)
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