Accuracy of pulse oximetry screening for detecting critical congenital heart disease in the newborns in rural hospital of Central India

Abstract

Congenital cardiovascular malformations are the most common category of birth defects and responsible for mortality in the first twelve months of life. Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) will be present in approximately one quarter of these children, which requires catheter or surgery intervention in the first year of life. The aim is to determine the accuracy of pulse oximetry for detecting clinically unrecognized CCHD in the newborns. This article reports the following methods : Pulse oximetry was performed on clinically normal newborns within first 4 hours of life. If screening oxygen saturation (SpO2) was below 90%, echocardiography was then performed. Inclusion criteria: All newborns who were admitted in postnatal ward & NICU. Exclusion criteria: Out born babies and babies with a prenatal diagnosis of duct dependent circulation.