Effectiveness of pulse oximetry screening for congenital heart disease in asymptomatic newborns

Pulse Oximetry Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Defects in Newborn Babies

Pulse oximetry screening (POS) was first described over 20 years ago. However, in recent years, major clinical trials have demonstrated consistent test accuracy for the detection of critical congenital heart defects (CCHD). International uptake of POS has progressed well over the last 10 years with most major high-income countries now recommending screening. This review describes the evidence base which has led to this, the current debate regarding choice of screening algorithm, and the future areas for further research.

Role of artificial intelligence in early detection of congenital heart diseases in neonates

In the domain of healthcare, most importantly pediatric healthcare, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly impacted the medical field. Congenital heart diseases represent a group of heart diseases that are known to be some of the most critical cardiac conditions present at birth. These heart diseases need a swift diagnosis as well as an intervention to ensure the wellbeing of newborns. Fortunately, with the help of AI, including the highly advanced algorithms, analytics and imaging involved, it provides us with a promising era for neonatal care. This article reviewed published data in PubMed, Science Direct, UpToDate, and Google Scholar between the years 2015-2023. To conclude The use of artificial intelligence in detecting congenital heart diseases has shown great promise in improving the accuracy and efficiency of diagnosis. Several studies have demonstrated the efficacy of AI-based approaches for diagnosing congenital heart diseases, with results indicating that the systems can achieve high levels of sensitivity and specificity. In addition, AI can help reduce the workload of healthcare professionals allowing them to focus on other critical aspects of patient care. Despite the potential benefits of using AI, in addition to detecting congenital heart disease, there are still some challenges to overcome, such as the need for large amounts of high-quality data and the requirement for careful validation of the algorithms. Nevertheless, with ongoing research and development, AI is likely to become an increasingly valuable tool for improving the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart diseases.

Newborn Pulse Oximetry Screening for Detecting Congenital Heart Disease: Experience at a Tertiary Care Center

Background

Congenital heart disease (CHD) remains the number one birth defect worldwide. Pulse oximetry screening (POS) is a widely used CHD screening modality effective in detecting critical lesions. This study is aimed at assessing the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of POS in a cohort of term well-babies admitted to a regular nursery in a tertiary care center.

Methods

We reviewed the charts of term babies admitted to our regular nursery over a period of one year. The results of POS and the findings of echocardiography were collected. Similarly, we explored the records of our fetal echocardiography program to identify the fetuses screened for CHD during the same period.

Results

900 term babies were born and admitted to newborn nursery at our center, and 69 fetuses were evaluated by our fetal cardiology team during the study period. None of our term babies had a positive POS at birth or 24 hours of age. However, 56 babies had a cardiac echo before hospital discharge due to suspicious findings on physical examination or a family history of CHD. A simple noncritical CHD was noted in 10 of them. Additionally, 53 babies underwent echocardiography within the first five years of life; a simple CHD was noted in 6 of them. In parallel, 21 of our fetuses were found to have CHD: 16 simple CHD and 5 critical CHD (CCHD).

Conclusion

Despite its cost-effectiveness and efficacy in screening for CCHD, POS is suboptimal for detecting simple CHD. In the absence of a proper prenatal screening and fetal echocardiography program, POS remains a cost-effective modality for detecting CCHD.

Effects of universal critical CHD screening of neonates at a mid-sized California congenital cardiac surgery centre

INTRODUCTION

CHD affects over 1 million children in the United States. Studies show decreased mortality from CHD with newborn cardiac screening. California began a screening programme on 1 July, 2013. We evaluated the effect of mandatory screening on surgical outcomes at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital since 1 July, 2013.

METHODS

We evaluated all infants having congenital heart surgery at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital between 1 July, 2013 and 31 December, 2018. Primary target diagnoses include hypoplastic left heart syndrome, pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, tetralogy of Fallot, total anomalous pulmonary venous return, transposition of the great arteries, tricuspid atresia, and truncus arteriosus. Secondary target diagnoses include aortic coarctation, double outlet right ventricle, Ebstein anomaly, interrupted aortic arch, and single ventricle. Patients were stratified by timing of diagnosis (pre-screen, screen positive, and screen negative). Primary end points were post-operative length of stay, operative mortality, absolute mortality, and actuarial survival.

RESULTS

The cohort included 274 infants. Of these, 79% were diagnosed prior to screening (46% prenatally). Only 38% of those screened were positive, with 13% of the cohort having a "missed diagnosis."

CONCLUSIONS

Primary targets were more likely to be diagnosed by screening (53%), while secondary targets were unlikely to be diagnosed by screening (10%) (p = 0.004). Outcomes such as length of stay, operative mortality, and actuarial survival were not different based on timing of diagnosis (p > 0.05). Despite late diagnosis, those not diagnosed until after screening did not have adverse outcomes.

Saturation screening for neonatal hypoxaemia within 6 h of life: Not all about congenital cardiac disease

AIMS

To assess the outcomes of an early oxygen saturation screening programme in apparently healthy newborns for the detection of cardiac and non-cardiac disease. To describe the aetiology and incidence of infants with oxygen saturations <95% in the first 6 h of life and describe the management to discharge. In addition, we sought to identify any risk factors for failed early saturations.

METHODS

This is a retrospective hospital cohort assessing outcomes of an early saturation screening programme performed in apparently healthy newborns. Infants with oxygen saturations less than 95% were identified and their clinical notes were hand-searched. Descriptive statistics were used to present demographics, proportion of infants who passed or failed screening, subsequent diagnoses and short-term outcome. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent associations of clinical factors (birthweight, gestation, elective caesarean section and gender) with failed screening.

RESULTS

Between 2014 and 2019, 14 956 healthy newborns were assessed within the first 6 h, 94 (0.63%) failed the early saturation screen. The most common causes for saturation <95% were respiratory disease or delayed transition. There were 31 (33%) infants admitted to the NICU with an additional baby requiring emergency transfer to a cardiac centre. Infants were 28 times more likely to have saturations <95% if born by elective caesarean section (odds ratio 28, conflict of interest (18.54-42.82)).

CONCLUSION

In apparently healthy newborns, early assessment of oxygen saturation, combined with clinical assessment and subsequent intervention can identify important conditions and should be considered as standard care.

A Machine Learning Driven Pipeline for Automated Photoplethysmogram Signal Artifact Detection

Recent advances in Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) research using Photoplethysmography (PPG) signals have yielded an Internet of Things (IoT) based enhanced screening method that performs CCHD detection comparable to SpO2 screening. The use of PPG signals, however, poses a challenge due to its measurements being prone to artifacts. To comprehensively study the most effective way to remove the artifact segments from PPG waveforms, we performed feature engineering and investigated both Machine Learning (ML) and rule based algorithms to identify the optimal method of artifact detection. Our proposed artifact detection system utilizes a 3-stage ML model that incorporates both Gradient Boosting (GB) and Random Forest (RF). The proposed system achieved 84.01% of Intersection over Union (IoU), which is competitive to state-of-the-art artifact detection methods tested on higher resolution PPG.

Enhanced Critical Congenital Cardiac Disease Screening by Combining Interpretable Machine Learning Algorithms

Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) screening that only uses oxygen saturation (SpO2), measured by pulse oximetry, fails to detect an estimated 900 US newborns annually. The addition of other pulse oximetry features such as perfusion index (PIx), heart rate, pulse delay and photoplethysmography characteristics may improve detection of CCHD, especially those with systemic blood flow obstruction such as Coarctation of the Aorta (CoA). To comprehensively study the most relevant features associated with CCHD, we investigated interpretable machine learning (ML) algorithms by using Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) to identify an optimal subset of features. We then incorporated the trained ML models into the current SpO2-alone screening algorithm. Our proposed enhanced CCHD screening system, which adds the ML model, improved sensitivity by approximately 10 percentage points compared to the current standard SpO2-alone method with minimal to no impact on specificity.Clinical relevance- This establishes proof of concept for a ML algorithm that combines pulse oximetry features to improve detection of CCHD with little impact on false positive rate.

New born pulse oximetry screening: A global perspective

The possibility of pulse oximetry screening (POS) for congenital heart defects was first described over 20 years ago. Since then, an accumulation of research evidence and clinical practice experience has established POS as an important test to detect critical congenital heart defects (CCHDs). POS meets the criteria for universal screening and professional bodies around the globe have recommended universal POS. Many countries have already adopted POS while several others are working towards its implementation. In low and low-middle-income countries (LLMIC), POS has the additional potential for reducing morbidity and mortality from neonatal sepsis. This review summarises the evidence for POS and looks at current global uptake and different approaches to the implementation of POS.

Critical Congenital Heart Disease Detection in the Screening Era: Do Not Neglect the Examination!

Pulse oximetry oxygen saturation (SpO ₂ )-based critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening is effective in detection of cyanotic heart lesions. We report a full-term male infant with normal perfusion who had passed the CCHD screening at approximately 24 hours after birth with preductal SpO ₂ of 99% and postductal SpO ₂ of 97%. Detection of a loud systolic cardiac murmur before discharge led to the diagnosis of pulmonary atresia (PA) with ventricular septal defect (PA-VSD) by echocardiogram. The infant was transferred to a tertiary care center after initiation of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) therapy. Throughout the initial course, he was breathing comfortably without respiratory distress or desaturations on pulse oximetry. We believe that this is the first documented report of PA missed by CCHD screening. Thorough and serial clinical examinations of the newborn infant proved vital in the timely diagnosis of this critical disease. We review the hemodynamics and the recent literature evaluating utility of CCHD screening in the diagnosis of PA-VSD. Pulse oximetry-based CCHD screening should be considered a tool to enhance CCHD detection with an emphasis on detailed serial physical examinations in newborn infants.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2021 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The American Heart Association, through its Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update. The 2021 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. This year's edition includes data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, an enhanced focus on social determinants of health, adverse pregnancy outcomes, vascular contributions to brain health, the global burden of cardiovascular disease, and further evidence-based approaches to changing behaviors related to cardiovascular disease.

RESULTS

Each of the 27 chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policy makers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

A novel system to collect dual pulse oximetry data for critical congenital heart disease screening research

Introduction

Access to patient medical data is critical to building a real-time data analytic pipeline for improving care providers' ability to detect, diagnose, and prognosticate diseases. Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) is a common group of neonatal life-threatening defects that must be promptly diagnosed to minimize morbidity and mortality. CCHD can be diagnosed both prenatally and postnatally. However, despite current screening practices involving oxygen saturation analysis, timely diagnosis is missed in approximately 900 infants with CCHD annually in the USA and can benefit from increased data processing capabilities. Adding non-invasive perfusion measurements to oxygen saturation data can improve the timeliness and fidelity of CCHD diagnostics. However, real-time monitoring and interpretation of non-invasive perfusion data are currently limited.

Methods

To address this challenge, we created a hardware and software architecture utilizing a Pi-top™ for collecting, visualizing, and storing dual oxygen saturation, perfusion indices, and photoplethysmography data. Data aggregation in our system is automated and all data files are coded with unique study identifiers to facilitate research purposes.

Results

Using this system, we have collected data from 190 neonates, 130 presumably without and 60 with congenital heart disease, in total comprising 1665 min of information. From these data, we are able to extract non-invasive perfusion features such as perfusion index, radiofemoral delay, and slope of systolic rise or diastolic fall.

Conclusion

This data collection and waveform analysis is relatively inexpensive and can be used to enhance future CCHD screening algorithms.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2020 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports on the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The American Heart Association, through its Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update. The 2020 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. This year's edition includes data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, metrics to assess and monitor healthy diets, an enhanced focus on social determinants of health, a focus on the global burden of cardiovascular disease, and further evidence-based approaches to changing behaviors, implementation strategies, and implications of the American Heart Association's 2020 Impact Goals.

RESULTS

Each of the 26 chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policy makers, media professionals, clinicians, healthcare administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Role of pulse oximetry in detecting critical congenital heart disease among newborns delivered at a high altitude setting in Ethiopia

Background

Congenital heart disease is one of the most common birth defects. It is not detected in some newborns until after their hospital discharge. Pulse oximetry (SpO2) screening for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) is practiced in some settings, mainly based on evidence derived from studies done in lowland areas. This study aimed to assess the role of SpO2 screening performed before discharge in detecting CCHD in our setting (Addis Ababa) which is located at high altitude.

Methods

Oxygen saturation of 941 apparently healthy term newborns in the nursery unit of St Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College located in Addis Ababa, was measured before discharge during the period from January 2018 to July 2018. SpO2 reading ≥95% was taken as a negative screening result. Positive SPO2 was defined as SpO2 <90% in any extremity, or a persistent SpO2 of 90%–94% in both right arm and lower extremity sites on three measurements or a persistent right arm to lower extremity SpO2 difference of >3%. Subsequent confirmatory echocardiography examination was done for those who tested positive during the SpO2 screening test. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0.

Results

A total of 56/941 (6.0%) newborns tested positive during the screening test. Of those 56 cases, subsequent echocardiography examination detected persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) in ten (17.9%) cases (subsequently two of them were found to have sepsis), patent ductus arteriosus in eleven (19.6%) cases, and atrial septal defect in two (3.6%) cases. No case of CCHD was detected among the screened newborns.

Conclusion

SpO2 screening detected non-cardiac causes of hypoxemic illnesses (sepsis and PPHN) which otherwise would have been missed. However, we recommend a larger sample size study to assess the efficacy of SpO2 screening in detecting CCHD in our setting.

Should we start a nationwide screening program for critical congenital heart disease in Turkey? A pilot study on four centres with different altitudes

BACKGROUND

To investigate the feasibility of critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening test by pulse oximetry in four geographical regions of Turkey with different altitudes, before implementation of a nationwide screening program.

METHODS

It was a prospective multi-centre study performed in four centres, between December, 2015 and May, 2017. Pre- and post-ductal oxygen saturations and perfusion indices (PI) were measured using Masimo Radical-7 at early postnatal days. The results were evaluated according to the algorithm recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Additionally, a PI value &lt;0.7 was accepted to be significant.

RESULTS

In 4888 newborns, the mean screening time was 31.5 ± 12.1 hours. At first attempt, the mean values of pre- and post-ductal measurements were: saturation 97.3 ± 1.8%, PI 2.8 ± 2.0, versus saturation 97.7 ± 1.8%, PI 2.3±1.3, respectively. Pre-ductal saturations and PI and post-ductal saturations were the lowest in Centre 4 with the highest altitude. Overall test positivity rate was 0.85% (n = 42). CCHD was detected in six babies (0.12%). Of them, right hand (91 ± 6.3) and foot saturations (92.1 ± 4.3%) were lower compared to ones with non-CCHD and normal variants (p &lt;0.05, for all comparisons). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and likelihood ratio of the test were: 83.3%, 99.9%, 11.9%, 99.9%, and 99.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study concluded that pulse oximetry screening is an effective screening tool for congenital heart disease in newborns at different altitudes. We support the implementation of a national screening program with consideration of altitude differences for our country.

Role of Pulse Oximetry Screening for Detection of Life Threatening Congenital Heart Detects in Newborn

Most ofnewborns with Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) can be detected by using echocardiography. However, if such defects are not diagnosed in earlier time, therefore a severe hypoxemia, shock, acidosis and death are considered of some potential sequelae. A prospective study from January 2012 to the end of 2013 was performed and 2181 neonates were enrolled in the study. The pulse oximetry screening (POS) for both hands and one foot were obtained within the first 3-6 hours of life, when post ductal saturation was below 90%, it was considered as a positive screening, while when the saturation is between 90-95% and the difference between pre-and post-ductal saturation was more than 3%, the baby was provisionally considered to be screening as a positive then echocardiography is planned. Among 100 positive POS babies, 45 (45%) of them were detected with CHS, 12 (12%) was with a major CHS and 33 (33%) was with a minor CHS. Out of 12 patients with a major CHD 6 of them (50%) were asymptomatic at the time of POS.POS result was a true negative in 2078 patients, a true positive in 45 patients, false negative in 3 patients, and false positive in 55 and 28/55 of the false positive rate with POS had other pathology. The false positive rate with pulse oximetry screening is (55/2081) = 0.26%. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for POS in detection of major CHD were 80%, 97.29%, 17.9% and 99.80%, respectively. Pulse oximetry screening is significantly improving the detection of life threatening congenital heart disease at an early stage.

Pulse Oximetry Screening in Germany-Historical Aspects and Future Perspectives

In January 2017, pulse oximetry screening was legally implemented in routine neonatal care in Germany. The preceding developments, which were the prerequisite for this step, are described in the specific context of Germany's health care system. Continued evaluation of the method is imperative and may lead to modifications in the screening protocol, ideally in accordance with the efforts in other countries.

Perioperative and Anesthetic Considerations in Truncus Arteriosus

Truncus arteriosus is a congenital cardiac lesion in which failure of embryonic truncal septation results in a single semilunar valve and single arterial trunk providing both pulmonary and systemic circulations. Most patients with this lesion are symptomatic in the neonatal period with cyanosis and/or congestive heart failure and undergo complete repair in the first weeks of life. This review will focus on the anatomy, physiology, and perioperative anesthetic management of patients with truncus arteriosus.

Pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart defects

BACKGROUND

Health outcomes are improved when newborn babies with critical congenital heart defects (CCHDs) are detected before acute cardiovascular collapse. The main screening tests used to identify these babies include prenatal ultrasonography and postnatal clinical examination; however, even though both of these methods are available, a significant proportion of babies are still missed. Routine pulse oximetry has been reported as an additional screening test that can potentially improve detection of CCHD.

OBJECTIVES

• To determine the diagnostic accuracy of pulse oximetry as a screening method for detection of CCHD in asymptomatic newborn infants• To assess potential sources of heterogeneity, including:○ characteristics of the population: inclusion or exclusion of antenatally detected congenital heart defects;○ timing of testing: < 24 hours versus ≥ 24 hours after birth;○ site of testing: right hand and foot (pre-ductal and post-ductal) versus foot only (post-ductal);○ oxygen saturation: functional versus fractional;○ study design: retrospective versus prospective design, consecutive versus non-consecutive series; and○ risk of bias for the "flow and timing" domain of QUADAS-2.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL; 2017, Issue 2) in the Cochrane Library and the following databases: MEDLINE, Embase, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Health Services Research Projects in Progress (HSRProj), up to March 2017. We searched the reference lists of all included articles and relevant systematic reviews to identify additional studies not found through the electronic search. We applied no language restrictions.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We selected studies that met predefined criteria for design, population, tests, and outcomes. We included cross-sectional and cohort studies assessing the diagnostic accuracy of pulse oximetry screening for diagnosis of CCHD in term and late preterm asymptomatic newborn infants. We considered all protocols of pulse oximetry screening (eg, different saturation thresholds to define abnormality, post-ductal only or pre-ductal and post-ductal measurements, test timing less than or greater than 24 hours). Reference standards were diagnostic echocardiography (echocardiogram) and clinical follow-up, including postmortem findings, mortality, and congenital anomaly databases.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We extracted accuracy data for the threshold used in primary studies. We explored between-study variability and correlation between indices visually through use of forest and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plots. We assessed risk of bias in included studies using the QUADAS-2 tool. We used the bivariate model to calculate random-effects pooled sensitivity and specificity values. We investigated sources of heterogeneity using subgroup analyses and meta-regression.

MAIN RESULTS

Twenty-one studies met our inclusion criteria (N = 457,202 participants). Nineteen studies provided data for the primary analysis (oxygen saturation threshold < 95% or ≤ 95%; N = 436,758 participants). The overall sensitivity of pulse oximetry for detection of CCHD was 76.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 69.5 to 82.0) (low certainty of the evidence). Specificity was 99.9% (95% CI 99.7 to 99.9), with a false-positive rate of 0.14% (95% CI 0.07 to 0.22) (high certainty of the evidence). Summary positive and negative likelihood ratios were 535.6 (95% CI 280.3 to 1023.4) and 0.24 (95% CI 0.18 to 0.31), respectively. These results showed that out of 10,000 apparently healthy late preterm or full-term newborn infants, six will have CCHD (median prevalence in our review). Screening by pulse oximetry will detect five of these infants as having CCHD and will miss one case. In addition, screening by pulse oximetry will falsely identify another 14 infants out of the 10,000 as having suspected CCHD when they do not have it.The false-positive rate for detection of CCHD was lower when newborn pulse oximetry was performed longer than 24 hours after birth than when it was performed within 24 hours (0.06%, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.13, vs 0.42%, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.89; P = 0.027).Forest and ROC plots showed greater variability in estimated sensitivity than specificity across studies. We explored heterogeneity by conducting subgroup analyses and meta-regression of inclusion or exclusion of antenatally detected congenital heart defects, timing of testing, and risk of bias for the "flow and timing" domain of QUADAS-2, and we did not find an explanation for the heterogeneity in sensitivity.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Pulse oximetry is a highly specific and moderately sensitive test for detection of CCHD with very low false-positive rates. Current evidence supports the introduction of routine screening for CCHD in asymptomatic newborns before discharge from the well-baby nursery.

Pulse oximetry values of neonates admitted for care and receiving routine oxygen therapy at a resource-limited hospital in Kenya

AIM

There are 2.7 million neonatal deaths annually, 75% of which occur in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Effective treatment of hypoxaemia through tailored oxygen therapy could reduce neonatal mortality and prevent oxygen toxicity.

METHODS

We undertook a two-part prospective study of neonates admitted to a neonatal unit in Nairobi, Kenya, between January and December 2015. We determined the prevalence of hypoxaemia and explored associations of clinical risk factors and signs of respiratory distress with hypoxaemia and mortality. After staff training on oxygen saturation (SpO₂ ) target ranges, we enrolled a consecutive sample of neonates admitted for oxygen and measured SpO₂ at 0, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h post-admission. We estimated the proportion of neonates outside the target range (≥34 weeks: ≥92%; <34 weeks: 89-93%) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

A total of 477 neonates were enrolled. Prevalence of hypoxaemia was 29.2%. Retractions (odds ratio (OR) 2.83, 95% CI 1.47-5.47), nasal flaring (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.51-4.75), and grunting (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.27-4.80) were significantly associated with hypoxaemia. Nasal flaring (OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.25-6.54), and hypoxaemia (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.54-6.07) were significantly associated with mortality; 64% of neonates receiving oxygen were out of range at ≥2 time points and 43% at ≥3 time points.

CONCLUSION

There is a high prevalence of hypoxaemia at admission and a strong association between hypoxaemia and mortality in this Kenyan neonatal unit. Many neonates had out of range SpO₂ values while receiving oxygen. Further research is needed to test strategies aimed at improving the accuracy of oxygen provision in low-resource settings.

Critical congenital heart disease screening with a pulse oximetry in neonates

OBJECTIVE

To compare the results of pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) in newborn infants performed at <24 h and >24 h following.

METHOD

Measurements were taken for each group at <24 h and >24 h following birth. Echocardiography was performed if the SpO2 readings remained abnormal results.

RESULTS

A total of 4518 newborns were included in this prospective descriptive study. Of these, 2484 (60.3%) were delivered vaginally and 1685 (39.7%) by cesarean section. Median time points of the screening were 25.4 (25.3-25.5) vs. 17.3 (12.2-22.4) hours after birth. In 4109 infants screened 24 h after birth, the mean pre- and postductal oxygen saturations (SpO2) were 96.5±1.99 and 97.7±1.98, while 127 infants screened within 24 h of mean preductal and postductal SpO2 were 91.33±2.64 and 94.0±4.44. No CCHD was detected during the study period. Pulse oximetry screening was false positive for CCHD in 9 of 4109 infants (0.02%); of these, six infants were referred to pediatric cardiology and three cases were diagnosed as other significant, non-cardiac pathology. There were two cases with AVSD (atrioventricular septal defect, three cases with ventricular septal defect (VSD), and one case with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

CONCLUSIONS

Saturation values are different between <24-h and >24-h neonates in pulse oximetry screening. The screening in this study identified infants with other important pathologies, this forms an added value as an assessment tool for newborn infants.

Pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart diseases at two different hospital settings in Thailand

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the predictive abilities of pulse oximetry screening (POS) for critical congenital heart disease (CRIT.CHD) at two different hospital settings in Thailand.

STUDY DESIGN

The study was conducted in healthy newborns at Ramathibodi Hospital (RH), a university hospital and Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital (MH), a regional hospital. Positive POS was defined as oxygen saturation (SpO₂) <95% or difference between pre- and postductal SpO₂ >3%.

RESULTS

Of 11 407 live births, 10 603 (92.9%) newborns were enrolled with a follow-up rate at 1 month of 78.3%. Incidence of CRIT.CHD (per 1000 live births) at RH and MH were 5.7 and 2.7, respectively. POS could detect three newborns who would have had a missed diagnosis. Sensitivity of POS for CRIT.CHD at RH was 82.3% vs 100% at MH. Overall specificity was 99.9% and false-positive rate was 0.009%. Combination of POS and physical examination (PE) enhanced detection ability to 100% at both hospitals.

CONCLUSION

POS combined with PE improved detection of CRIT.CHD. Routine POS is useful in personnel-limited settings.

Pulse oximetry findings in newborns with antenatally diagnosed congenital heart disease

A retrospective review of admission preductal oxygen saturations of neonates with antenatally diagnosed critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) was performed to investigate the differences in newborn pulse oximetry (Pulsox) by specific CCHD diagnosis. Saturations were recorded at median of < 1 h (range < 1-9 h) after delivery. Data was stratified by CCHD diagnosis and analysed according to the three different admission Pulsox thresholds, ≤ 90, ≤ 92 and ≤ 95%. Of the 276 neonates studied, 208 were clinically well at admission, with no co-morbidities, gestation > 34 weeks and birth weight > 1.8 kg. A statistically significant increase in the proportion with low admission saturations was seen using ≤ 95% saturation threshold (72% (95% CI 66-78)) compared to ≤ 92% (52% (95% CI 46-59)) and ≤ 90% (46% (95% CI 39-52)). Sub-group analysis found the proportion of neonates with low saturations varied according to the specific CCHD diagnosis with only 20-42% of neonates with aortic stenosis, coarctation of the aorta and pulmonary stenosis having saturations ≤ 95%.

CONCLUSION

The proportion of neonates with low admission oxygen saturation varied by CCHD diagnosis with those without critically reduced pulmonary blood flow not having low admission saturations, in general, even using the ≤ 95% threshold which had the highest proportions of abnormal saturations. This data may assist developing Pulsox screening policies. What is Known: • The addition of pulse oximetry (Pulsox) screening to the routine newborn examination increases the sensitivity of CCHD detection. Pulsox screening is also highly specific for CCHD in asymptomatic neonates, with low false-positive rates. • Early diagnosis of CCHD improves patient outcomes in relation to both morbidity and mortality. What is New: • The proportion of affected infants with an abnormal Pulsox result varies by CCHD diagnosis and screening threshold. In our study using the ≤ 95% threshold gave the highest proportion of neonates with abnormal saturations at admission. • In general, Pulsox yield of abnormal results is low for CCHD diagnoses not associated with critically reduced pulmonary blood flow; however, increasing the Pulsox threshold increased the proportion of infants with an abnormal result.

A Meta-Analysis about the Screening Role of Pulse Oximetry for Congenital Heart Disease

OBJECTIVE

The opinions about the application of pulse oximetry in diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) were debatable. We performed this meta-analysis to confirm the diagnostic role of pulse oximetry screening for CHD.

METHODS

Relevant articles were searched in the databases of Pubmed, Embase, Google Scholar, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) up to April 2017. Data was processed in the MetaDiSc 1.4 software. Pooled sensitivity and specificity with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated to explain the diagnostic role of pulse oximetry screening for CHD. I2⩾50% or p < 0.05 indicated significant heterogeneity. Area under curve (AUC) of summary receiver operating characteristics (SROC) was calculated to assess its diagnostic accuracy. The robustness of overall results was evaluated by sensitivity analysis. Publication bias was evaluated by Deek's funnel plot.

RESULTS

22 eligible articles were selected. Pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.69 (0.67-0.72) and 0.99 (0.99-0.99), respectively. The corresponding AUC was 0.9407, suggesting high diagnostic accuracy of pulse oximetry screening for CHD. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the pooled results were robust. Deek's funnel plot seemed to be symmetrical.

CONCLUSIONS

Pulse oximetry screening could be used to diagnose CHD. It shows high diagnosis specificity and accuracy.

Association of US State Implementation of Newborn Screening Policies for Critical Congenital Heart Disease With Early Infant Cardiac Deaths

IMPORTANCE

In 2011, critical congenital heart disease was added to the US Recommended Uniform Screening Panel for newborns, but whether state implementation of screening policies has been associated with infant death rates is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether there was an association between implementation of state newborn screening policies for critical congenital heart disease and infant death rates.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Observational study with group-level analyses. A difference-in-differences analysis was conducted using the National Center for Health Statistics' period linked birth/infant death data set files for 2007-2013 for 26 546 503 US births through June 30, 2013, aggregated by month and state of birth.

EXPOSURES

State policies were classified as mandatory or nonmandatory (including voluntary policies and mandates that were not yet implemented). As of June 1, 2013, 8 states had implemented mandatory screening policies, 5 states had voluntary screening policies, and 9 states had adopted but not yet implemented mandates.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Numbers of early infant deaths (between 24 hours and 6 months of age) coded for critical congenital heart disease or other/unspecified congenital cardiac causes for each state-month birth cohort.

RESULTS

Between 2007 and 2013, there were 2734 deaths due to critical congenital heart disease and 3967 deaths due to other/unspecified causes. Critical congenital heart disease death rates in states with mandatory screening policies were 8.0 (95% CI, 5.4-10.6) per 100 000 births (n = 37) in 2007 and 6.4 (95% CI, 2.9-9.9) per 100 000 births (n = 13) in 2013 (for births by the end of July); for other/unspecified cardiac causes, death rates were 11.7 (95% CI, 8.6-14.8) per 100 000 births in 2007 (n = 54) and 10.3 (95% CI, 5.9-14.8) per 100 000 births (n = 21) in 2013. Early infant deaths from critical congenital heart disease through December 31, 2013, decreased by 33.4% (95% CI, 10.6%-50.3%), with an absolute decline of 3.9 (95% CI, 3.6-4.1) deaths per 100 000 births after states implemented mandatory screening compared with prior periods and states without screening policies. Early infant deaths from other/unspecified cardiac causes declined by 21.4% (95% CI, 6.9%-33.7%), with an absolute decline of 3.5 (95% CI, 3.2-3.8) deaths per 100 000 births. No significant decrease was associated with nonmandatory screening policies.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Statewide implementation of mandatory policies for newborn screening for critical congenital heart disease was associated with a significant decrease in infant cardiac deaths between 2007 and 2013 compared with states without these policies.

Perfusion Index and Pulse Oximetry Screening for Congenital Heart Defects

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of combined pulse oximetry (POX) and perfusion index (PI) neonatal screening for severe congenital heart defects (sCHD) and assess different impacts of screening in tertiary and nontertiary hospitals.

STUDY DESIGN

A multicenter, prospective study in 10 tertiary and 6 nontertiary maternity hospitals. A total of 42 169 asymptomatic newborns from among 50 244 neonates were screened; exclusion criteria were antenatal sCHD diagnosis, postnatal clinically suspected sCHD, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. Eligible infants underwent pre- and postductal POX and PI screening after routine discharge examination. Targeted sCHD were anatomically defined. Positivity was defined as postductal oxygen saturation (SpO₂) ≤95%, prepostductal SpO₂ gradient >3%, or PI <0.90. Confirmed positive cases underwent echocardiography for definitive diagnosis. Missed cases were identified by consulting clinical registries at 6 regional pediatric heart centers. Main outcomes were incidence of unexpected sCHD; proportion of undetected sCHD after discharge in tertiary and nontertiary hospitals; and specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of combined screening.

RESULTS

One hundred forty-two sCHD were detected prenatally. Prevalence of unexpected sCHD was 1 in 1115 live births, similar in tertiary and nontertiary hospitals. Screening identified 3 sCHD (low SpO₂, 2; coarctation for low PI, 1). Four cases were missed. In tertiary hospitals, 95% of unsuspected sCHDs were identified clinically, whereas only 28% in nontertiary units; in nontertiary units PI-POX screening increased the detection rate to 71%.

CONCLUSIONS

PI-POX predischarge screening provided benefits in nontertiary units, where clinical recognition rate was low. PI can help identify coarctation cases missed by POX but requires further evaluation in populations with higher rates of missed cases.

The Predictive Value of Pulse Oximeters for Pulse Improvement after Angiography in Infants and Children

Background

Information from pulse oximeter waves confirms the presence of a pulse and helps obtain waves from tissue when the supplying artery is not readily accessible.

Objectives

This study determined the predictive value of pulse oximeters for detecting improved arterial pulses after angiography.

Patients and Methods

This cross-sectional, multi-center study included 467 4-day-old to 12-year-old patients and was conducted from January 2012 to January 2016. Angiographies were performed on 12-year-old or younger children for various medical reasons using venous, arterial, or both types of paths. The posterior malleolar or dorsalis pedis were palpated in punctured lower extremities. In the absence of a pulse, pulse oximetry was performed to identify pulse curves at 1 hour, 6 hours, and 12 hours after each angiography.

Results

Pulse oximetry displayed the pulses of 319 patients immediately following each angiography. Of these, 262 patients had palpable pulses at 6 hours after angiography (P < 0.0001), while 57 patients had no palpable pulse. Of these 57 patients, 15 had no palpable pulse at 12 hours after angiography (P < 0.0001). The odds of pulse improvement in children 6 hours after catheter angiography were 76% for the arterial path, 90% for the venous path, and 83.2% for both paths. At 12 hours after catheter angiography, these values increased to 91.6% for the arterial path, 100% for the venous path, and 95.9% for both paths.

Conclusions

The pulse oximeter can display the pulse curve immediately (1 hour) after angiography and indicate pulse improvement at 12 hours maximally following an angiography. In this case, heparin alone may be used instead of thrombolytic agents.

Modern Strategy for Identification of Congenital Heart Defects in the Neonatal Period

Introduction:

Congenital heart defects are the most common congenital anomalies and occur with an incidence from 0.8 to 1% per 1000 live births. In recent years, the pulse oximetry has become a strong candidate for detecting cyanogen congenital heart defects and in combination with routine clinical exam can improve diagnostic of congenital heart diseases.

Objective:

To apply the modern algorithm for early detection of congenital heart defects in order to improve the diagnosis in the neonatal period.

Patients and Methods:

This was a prospective study that included children born in Bihac Cantonal Hospital during 2012. The diagnostic algorithm included a clinical examination of the newborn, measuring of transcutaneous oxygen saturation with the pulse oximeter between 24 and 48 hours of life, and, in some cases, additional tests (cardiac ultrasound).

Results:

A total of 1,865 children were examined. The application of diagnostic protocol identified the existence of congenital heart defects in 29 children. In re-evaluating the auscultator and ultrasound findings, we identified congenital heart defects in 19 children.

Conclusion:

The application of the modern algorithm for early detection of congenital heart diseases in the neonatal period can significantly improve the making of diagnosis of these anomalies. The concept is simple, inexpensive and applicable in most maternity wards.

Pulse Oximetry Screening to Detect Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease in Sick Neonates in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate pulse oximetry for detection of congenital cyanotic heart disease in sick neonates using echocardiography as gold standard.

METHODS

Pulse oximetry readings were taken at admission from 950 neonates from right upper limb and either foot with infant breathing room air. Pulse oximetry was considered abnormal if oxygen saturation at room air measured <90% or difference between right hand and foot was more than 3%. Persistent abnormality was considered positive result. Echocardiography was performed on all neonates with positive pulse oximetry (study group) and on one subsequent neonate with negative screen for each neonate with positive screen (controls).

RESULTS

Pulse oximetry was positive in 210 neonates. It detected 20 out of 21 (95.2%) true positives. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and odds ratio (95% CI) of pulse oximetry was 95.2%, 52.4%, 9.5, 99.5 and 22 (5.3, 91.4), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Pulse oximetry screening is useful in detecting cyanotic heart diseases in sick newborns.

Universal Pulse Oximetry Screening for Early Detection of Critical Congenital Heart Disease

Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) is a major cause of infant death and morbidity worldwide. An early diagnosis and timely intervention can significantly reduce the likelihood of an adverse outcome. However, studies from the United States and other developed countries have shown that as many as 30%–50% of infants with CCHD are discharged after birth without being identified. This diagnostic gap is likely to be even higher in low-resource countries. Several large randomized trials have shown that the use of universal pulse-oximetry screening (POS) at the time of discharge from birth hospital can help in early diagnosis of these infants. The objective of this review is to share data to show that the use of POS for early detection of CCHD meets the criteria necessary for inclusion to the universal newborn screening panel and could be adopted worldwide.

Lessons Learned From Newborn Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Defects

Newborn screening for critical congenital heart defects (CCHD) was added to the US Recommended Uniform Screening Panel in 2011. Within 4 years, 46 states and the District of Columbia had adopted it into their newborn screening program, leading to CCHD screening being nearly universal in the United States. This rapid adoption occurred while there were still questions about the effectiveness of the recommended screening protocol and barriers to follow-up for infants with a positive screen. In response, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention partnered with the American Academy of Pediatrics to convene an expert panel between January and September 2015 representing a broad array of primary care, neonatology, pediatric cardiology, nursing, midwifery, public health, and advocacy communities. The panel's goal was to review current practices in newborn screening for CCHD and to identify opportunities for improvement. In this article, we describe the experience of CCHD screening in the United States with regard to: (1) identifying the target lesions for CCHD screening; (2) optimizing the algorithm for screening; (3) determining state-level challenges to implementation and surveillance of CCHD; (4) educating all stakeholders; (5) performing screening using the proper equipment and in a cost-effective manner; and (6) implementing screening in special settings such as the NICU, out-of-hospital settings, and areas of high altitude.

Current diagnosis and treatments for critical congenital heart defects

Congenital heart defects (CHD) affect approximately 7% of infants, and account for 3% of all infant deaths. CHD is most often caused by the defects associated with ductus arteriosus, which is a vessel that usually closes shortly after birth. The types of CHD include tetralogy of fallot, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, pulmonary atresia, total anomalous pulmonary venous return, transposition of great arteries, tricuspid atresia and truncus arteriosus. There are some risk factors that can increase the chance of a fetus developing CHD such as prematurity, an existing CHD in a first-degree relative, genetic syndromes, infections in utero, maternal drug consumptions and disorders. CHD is diagnosed is through different techniques including pulse oximetry, echocardiograms and physical exams. In this review, we examined the current incidence of CHD, the risk factors associated with CHD, the current methods of diagnosis and surgical options used to repair the defects.

Aspects of pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart defects: when, how and why?

Pulse oximetry (PO) screening for critical congenital heart defects (CCHD) has been studied extensively and is being increasingly implemented worldwide. This review provides an overview of all aspects of PO screening that need to be considered when introducing this methodology. PO screening for CCHD is effective, simple, quick, reliable, cost-effective and does not lead to extra burden for parents and caregivers. Test accuracy can be influenced by targets definition, gestational age, timing of screening and antenatal detection of CCHD. Early screening can lead to more false positive screenings, but has the potential to detect significant pathology earlier. There is no apparent difference in accuracy between screening with post-ductal measurements only, compared with screening using pre-ductal and post-ductal measurements. However, adding pre-ductal measurements identifies cases of CCHD which would have been missed by post-ductal screening. Screening at higher altitudes leads to more false positives. Important non-cardiac pathology is found in 35-74% of false positives in large studies. Screening is feasible in neonatal intensive care units and out-of-hospital births. Training caregivers, simplifying the algorithm and using computer-based interpretation tools can improve the quality of the screening. Caregivers need to consider all aspects of screening to enable them to choose an optimal protocol for implementation of CCHD screening in their specific setting.

Clinical Approach to a Neonate with Cyanosis

Cyanosis is always pathological and demands detailed evaluation. Combined use of clinical findings, electrocardiogram and chest radiograph permits determination of underlying cause in vast majority. Stepwise approach allows hemodynamic classification of the cardiac lesion and directs immediate management. Accurate anatomic diagnosis of the cardiac malformation is seldom essential for preliminary management and therefore, emphasis must be on clinical classification rather than on obtaining echocardiographic diagnosis.

Pulse oximetry as a screening tool for detecting major congenital heart defects in Indian newborns

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the use of pulse oximetry as a screening tool for detecting major congenital heart defects (CHDs) in Indian newborns.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional observational study.

PATIENTS

In a community hospital of north India, babies born during a specific 8 h period of the day were recruited over a period of 3 years. Newborns with incomplete documentation were excluded.

INTERVENTION

Routine clinical examination, pulse oximetry and bedside echocardiography.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Any abnormalities in clinical examination and pulse oximetry were recorded. CHDs were diagnosed using bedside echocardiography. Accuracy of pulse oximetry, clinical examination and their combination for detecting major CHDs was calculated.

RESULTS

Among the 19 009 newborns screened, 70 had major CHDs at birth (44 serious, 26 critical). Pulse oximetry detected 39 major (sensitivity 55.7%, 95% CI 44.1% to 66.8%; specificity 68.3%, 67.6% to 68.9%) and 22 critical CHDs (sensitivity 84.6%, 66.5% to 93.9%; specificity 68.3%, 67.6% to 68.9%). Addition of pulse oximetry to clinical examination significantly improved sensitivity for major CHDs (35.7% (25.5% to 47.4%) to 75.7% (64.5% to 85.3%), p<0.01) and critical CHDs (11.5% (4.0% to 29.0%) to 84.6% (66.5% to 93.9%), p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Pulse oximetry is a sensitive screening tool for detecting major CHDs in Indian newborns. It adds significant value to the current practice of using clinical examination as a sole screening tool for detecting major CHDs. However, specificity of pulse oximetry was much lower in our study. Possible reasons for low specificity could be non-repetition of pulse oximetry in newborns with initial lower saturations, high prevalence of infections and respiratory issues in our cohort and use of non-motion tolerant oximeter.

Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease in Newborns

CCHD affects more than 25% of neonates born with congenital heart disease. Patients with CCHD require timely intervention in the form of surgery or cardiac catheterization to survive. These interventions may improve survival and outcomes for these patients. There is strong evidence that performing newborn pulse oximetry screening after the first 24 hours of life may help to detect more than 1200 neonates in the United States each year with CCHD. Pulse oximetry screening for CCHD has been demonstrated to be reasonable to implement and seems to be cost-effective. There is evidence that asymptomatic patients with CCHD can be diagnosed before clinical presentation or cardiovascular collapse with this screening. Pulse oximeter screening has been endorsed by several national organizations as a valuable newborn screening tool. Implementation of pulse oximetry screening programs in a standardized manner with strong communication among all involved parties will likely improve outcomes as well. As we move forward, we as clinicians should work to have a centralized system of reporting positive CCHD results, prompt patient evaluation, and good follow-up for the families of those neonates with positive screening results. Achieving these objectives will likely help us to achieve the goal of improving outcomes of the most critical neonates with CCHD.

Early screening for critical congenital heart defects in asymptomatic newborns in Bursa province

OBJECTIVE

In this study, pulse oximetry screening results in the early diagnosis of critical congenital heart diseases (CCHD) will be evaluated.

METHODS

Eight-thousand two-hundred and eight of 10,200 newborns born between January 2014 and December 2014 were screened using pulse oximetry for the diagnosis of CCHD. Screening test was considered to be positive in the newborns whose saturation after 24 h from the birth with pulse oximetry was ≤ 95% and/or in the newborns who had a difference of ≥ 3% between the lower and right upper extremity.

RESULTS

Incidence of CCHD was 1 per 1000 live births. Coarctation of the aorta was the most commonly determined CCHD. Sensitivity, specificity, false negative rate and false positive rate of pulse oximetry in the diagnosis of CCHD were 60%, 99.8%, 40% and 0.12%, respectively. Seventy-five percent of the newborns who had a false negative diagnosis with pulse oximetry had coarctation of the aorta. Coarctation of the aorta was determined at a rate of 20% using CCHD screening.

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta is missed in the newborns screened with pulse oximetry in the first 24-48 h after birth. Screening with pulse oximetry should be repeated for early diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta.

Detection of critical congenital heart defects: Review of contributions from prenatal and newborn screening

In 2011, statewide newborn screening programs for critical congenital heart defects began in the United States, and subsequently screening has been implemented widely. In this review, we focus on data reports and collection efforts related to both prenatal diagnosis and newborn screening. Defect-specific, maternal, and geographic factors are associated with variations in prenatal detection, so newborn screening provides a population-wide safety net for early diagnosis. A new web-based repository is collecting information on newborn screening program policies, quality indicators related to screening programs, and specific case-level data on infants with these defects. Birth defects surveillance programs also collect data about critical congenital heart defects, particularly related to diagnostic timing, mortality, and services. Individuals from state programs, federal agencies, and national organizations will be interested in these data to further refine algorithms for screening in normal newborn nurseries, neonatal intensive care settings, and other special populations; and ultimately to evaluate the impact of screening on outcomes.

Quality improvement measures in pulse-oximetry newborn heart screening: a time series analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The use of pulse-oximetry screening to detect critical congenital heart defects in newborns has gained national and international momentum in the past decade. Our hospital system began screening in 2008. Since then, our program has undergone leadership changes and multiple quality improvement interventions. The aims of this study are to evaluate the evolution of our pulse-oximetry program and to provide insights from lessons learned over the course of a long-standing program.

METHODS

We reviewed 6 years of screening data and evaluated trends of missed screens, false-positives, protocol violations, and parental decline of screening. We implemented 3 quality improvement interventions (change in protocol, redesign of an electronic medical record documentation system to autocalculate results, and transition from research to standard-of-care) and reviewed the impact of a rigorous quality assurance review process. We used linear regression and statistical process control charts to evaluate the data.

RESULTS

A total of 18,363 newborns were screened; we identified 5 critical cases. We observed a significant decrease in missed (P < .001) and false-positive (P = .03) screens over time but found no significant trend in the rate of percentage of protocol violations (P = .26) or decline of screening (P = .99). Each metric showed behavior attributable to at least 1 quality improvement intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

We established a sustainable pulse-oximetry screening program in our community hospital system, and the screening has now become routine. The quality of our screening was influenced by choice of screening protocol, rigor of quality assurance reviews, and the process used to interpret screening results.

Post-implementation review of pulse oximetry screening of well newborns in an Australian tertiary maternity hospital

AIM

Despite there being evidence that pulse oximetry screening is better than clinical examination alone in early detection of CHD, implementation has been slow. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the practice after its implementation into routine care at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in 2008.

METHODS

A single pulse oximetry measurement was incorporated in the routine discharge newborn examination or, with early discharge, as a part of the Midwife Discharge Support Programme. An oxygen saturation level greater than or equal to 95% was considered normal, and a level less than 95%, confirmed on a repeat measure, triggered a review and examination by a consultant neonatal paediatrician. The saturation levels were recorded in the hospital database. Ascertainment of major CHD requiring surgery in the first 12 months was performed by searching the cardiac surgery database of the Heart Centre for Children.

RESULTS

A total of 18 801 babies were screened over a 42-month period. Of these, four babies with major CHD were diagnosed prior to discharge with the main clinical alert resulting from routine pulse oximetry screening (true positive). Of the 11 cases with saturation <95% but no CHD (false positive cases), six had respiratory pathology. One baby with normal saturation level needed surgery in the first year for a large ventricular septal defect (false negative). The false positive rate of pulse oximetry screening for CHD was 0.13% with sensitivity 80%, specificity of 99.8%, a positive predictive value of 13.3% and a negative predictive value of 99.9%. Nine additional echocardiogram were required over 42 months.

CONCLUSIONS

These post-implementation data confirm that pulse oximetry screening increases early diagnosis of major CHD as well as other important pathology with a very low false positive rate and minimal requirement for extra echocardiograms. Pulse oximetry screening of apparently well newborns should become a standard of care.

Prenatal and newborn screening for critical congenital heart disease: findings from a nursery

BACKGROUND

Delayed diagnosis of critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) in neonates increases morbidity and mortality. The use of pulse oximetry screening is recommended to increase detection of these conditions. The contribution of pulse oximetry in a tertiary-care birthing center may be different from at other sites.

METHODS

We analyzed CCHD pulse oximetry screening for newborns ≥ 35 weeks' gestation born at Brigham and Women's Hospital and cared for in the well-infant nursery during 2013. We identified patients with prenatal diagnosis of CCHD. We also identified infants born at other medical centers who were transferred to Boston Children's Hospital for CCHD and determined if the condition was diagnosed prenatally.

RESULTS

Of 6838 infants with complete pulse oximetry data, 6803 (99.5%) passed the first screening. One infant failed all 3 screenings and had the only echocardiogram prompted by screening that showed persistent pulmonary hypertension. There was 1 false-negative screening in an infant diagnosed with interrupted aortic arch. Of 112 infants born at Brigham and Women's Hospital with CCHD, 111 had a prenatal diagnosis, and none was initially diagnosed by pulse oximetry. Of 81 infants transferred to Boston Children's Hospital from other medical centers with CCHD, 35% were diagnosed prenatally.

CONCLUSIONS

In our tertiary-care setting, pulse oximetry did not detect an infant with CCHD because of effective prenatal echocardiography screening. Pulse oximetry will detect more infants in settings with a lower prenatal diagnosis rate. Improving training in complete fetal echocardiography scans should also improve timely diagnosis of CCHD.

Effectiveness of pulse-oximetry in addition to routine neonatal examination in detection of congenital heart disease in asymptomatic newborns

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of pulse-oximetry as a screening tool in the detection of critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) in newborns.

METHODS

Post-natal babies born between 01/01/2007-31/12/2009 were eligible. Post-ductal pulse-oximetry was performed using Nellcor® NPB 40 pulse oximeter with reusable OXI-A/N saturation probe. Saturations ≥95% were deemed normal. If saturations were <95%, an echocardiogram was done. The regional paediatric cardiology database and death records identified babies later diagnosed with CCHD.

RESULTS

6329/9613 eligible babies were studied and pulse-oximetry was performed at a mean age of 28 hours (range 6-72 hours). Fourteen babies had saturations <95%. CCHD was diagnosed in 7/14 babies; 4/7 had no clinical signs. Of the remaining 7 babies, 3 had non-critical but significant CHD and 4 had an undiagnosed respiratory illness or sepsis. All babies with low saturations had identifiable pathologies. One baby with normal saturations was later diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries. The sensitivity and specificity of identifying an unwell baby was 93.3% and 100% respectively; the sensitivity and specificity of identifying CCHD was 87.5% and 99.8% respectively. Clinical examination alone would have missed 4/7 (57%) of these.

CONCLUSION

Pulse-oximetry is safe, acceptable, non-invasive and effective. Our study supports the routine use of pulse oximetry as part of the newborn check.