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Content: The Maryland law will not be implemented until there are federal recommendations for such screening. Other states are currently considering such legislation. BACKGROUND
The following information is from the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
What is Congenital Heart Disease? CHD is the most common birth defect. Infants with CHD have abnormal structure to their heart which creates abnormal blood flow patterns. Approximately eight of every 1,000 infants born in the United States each year have a form of CHD, some of which cause no or very few problems in the health and development of the child. But critical CHD can bring a significant risk of morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed soon after birth. Failing to detect critical CHD while in the newborn nursery may lead to critical events such as cardiogenic shock or death. Survivors who present late are at greater risk for neurologic injury and subsequent developmental delay. What is Pulse Oximetry and How is it Performed?