Title: Screening Newborns for Critical Congenital Heart Disease
Headings: Screening Newborns for Critical Congenital Heart Disease
Screening Newborns for Critical Congenital Heart Disease
Content: Critical congenital heart defects (CCHDs; also referred to as "critical congenital heart disease ") are the most recent addition to the United States Recommended Uniform Screening Panel for newborns. As more hospitals start screening newborns for CCHDs, you will need to understand what this screening means for your patients. CCHDs are structural heart defects that often are associated with hypoxemia in infants during the newborn period. Infants with CCHDs require surgery or catheter intervention within the first year of life, often soon after birth. Without treatment, these babies are at risk for significant morbidity or mortality early in life as a result of closure of the ductus arteriosus or other physiologic changes. Screening for CCHDs is conducted with a pulse oximeter to measure the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is saturated with oxygen, with probes placed on the infant's right hand and either foot. An algorithm, either the algorithm recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics or a similar one approved by the state or hospital, is then used to determine whether the infant passes, fails, or needs repeat pulse oximetry screening. Screening is performed when the infant is at least 24 hours of age, or as late as possible if the baby is to be discharged from the hospital before he or she is 24 hours of age. Pulse oximetry screening is most likely to detect 7 of the types of CCHDs.