Title: Critical Congenital Heart Disease | Ohio Department of Health
Headings: Critical Congenital Heart Disease
Critical Congenital Heart Disease
Facts about Congenital Heart Disease
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Content: However, some babies are born appearing healthy and without symptoms who may have serious critical congenital heart diseases. These infants will need surgery or intervention within the first year of life. In 2014 Ohio implemented universal newborn screening for critical congenital heart diseases. Legislation and administrative rules, Ohio Revised Code 3701-5010 and Ohio Administrative Code 3701-54-03, require all newborns to be screened for CCHD using pulse oximetry prior to hospital discharge, and for hospitals to report the screening results to the Ohio Department of Health. Screening newborns by pulse oximetry prior to hospital discharge has been shown to be an effective strategy for identifying babies with 7 specific CCHDs. Early diagnosis of CCHDs improves health outcomes for babies and reduces health care costs. Newborn screening for CCHDs is listed on the national Recommended Uniform Screening Panel, developed by the U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children. The purpose of this committee is to develop a uniform panel of disorders that all states should include for newborn screening. These recommendations ensure that babies are screened in a uniform manner independent of their geographic location. Importance of Screening for CCHD
Some CCHDs may be diagnosed during pregnancy using a special type of ultrasound called a fetal echocardiogram, which creates pictures of the heart of the developing baby.