Title: Pulse Oximetry
Headings: Pulse Oximetry
Pulse Oximetry
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Content: Critical CHD, however, can bring a significant risk of morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed in a timely manner. 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. Fortunately, a routine test exists that can help us identify most infants with critical CHD. What is the Pulse Oximetry Test? Pulse oximetry is a simple, non-invasive and painless test that is used to measure the percent of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the arterial blood and the pulse rate. The pulse-oximetry test was invented in the 1970s and is now widely used and accepted in clinical care. In fact, it is often considered a vital sign. Traditionally, pulse oximetry has been used to monitor an individual’s oxygen saturation during acute and chronic illness, as well as during procedures requiring general anesthesia or sedation. Why is Pulse Oximetry Used to Screen for CHD?