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: Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening to Detect Critical Congenital Heart Disease - HealthyChildren.org

































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Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening to Detect Critical Congenital Heart Disease
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Most babies are born with healthy hearts and have enough oxygen in their blood. However, about 1 baby in every 100 is born with a congenital heart defect (CHD) and 25% of those babies with CHD will have a critical congenital heart defect (CCHD). Babies with critical CHDs have low oxygen levels and usually require surgery or other procedures in the first year of life. Sometimes intervention must be done urgently, within the first days or weeks of a baby's life. Some examples of critical CHDs include coarctation of the aorta, transposition of the great arteries, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and tetralogy of Fallot. What is pulse oximetry? Pulse oximetry ( also called pulse ox ) is a simple and painless test that measures the level oxygen is in the blood. There are types of CCHD that cause lower than usual blood oxygen levels and those can be picked up by pulse oximetry―even before a baby becomes sick. Early detection and appropriate management can then be provided and may improve a baby's outcome. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends pulse oximetry be performed at all newborn screenings to detect CCHD.