What is congenital heart disease (CHD)?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 have a form of CHD. Some forms of CHD cause no or very few problems in the health, growth, and development of the baby. However, 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?Pulse oximetry (ox-eh-mah-tree), or “pulse ox,” is a simple, non-invasive and painless test that is used to measure the percent oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the arterial blood and the pulse rate. Pulse ox was invented in the 1970’s and is now widely used and accepted in clinical care; it is often thought to be a basic vital sign.
How is pulse ox performed?
The pulse ox is placed by a sticky strip, like a band-aid™, with a small red light, or “probe,” on the baby’s hand or foot. The probe is attached to a wire, which is attached to a special monitor that shows the pulse ox reading. The pulse ox test takes just a few minutes to perform. You can help comfort your baby and keep him or her warm, calm, and quiet while the test is being performed.
Why is pulse oximetry used to screen for CHD?
Pulse ox is used to measure how much oxygen is in the blood. Pulse ox is a routinely used test that can be used to monitor an baby's oxygen level during a procedure or treatment. It can also be helpful in determining if an baby’s heart and lungs are healthy. Pulse ox can also help to identify babies with low levels of oxygen in their blood that may have serious heart problems. A doctor or nurse practitioner may ask for more testing such as an ultrasound of the heart, or echocardiogram (or “echo”) when a low pulse ox reading is identified. The echo will screen for a serious problem in the structure of the heart or the blood flow through the heart. Pulse ox can identify a baby with serious CHD before he or she leaves the newborn nursery.
Who should be screened?
All babies in the newborn nursery should be screened.
How is pulse ox performed?
The pulse ox is placed by a sticky strip, like a band-aid™, with a small red light, or “probe,” on the baby’s hand or foot. The probe is attached to a wire, which is attached to a special monitor that shows the pulse ox reading. The pulse ox test takes just a few minutes to perform. You can help comfort your baby and keep him or her warm, calm, and quiet while the test is being performed.
Why is pulse oximetry used to screen for CHD?
Pulse ox is used to measure how much oxygen is in the blood. Pulse ox is a routinely used test that can be used to monitor an baby's oxygen level during a procedure or treatment. It can also be helpful in determining if an baby’s heart and lungs are healthy. Pulse ox can also help to identify babies with low levels of oxygen in their blood that may have serious heart problems. A doctor or nurse practitioner may ask for more testing such as an ultrasound of the heart, or echocardiogram (or “echo”) when a low pulse ox reading is identified. The echo will screen for a serious problem in the structure of the heart or the blood flow through the heart. Pulse ox can identify a baby with serious CHD before he or she leaves the newborn nursery.
Who should be screened?
All babies in the newborn nursery should be screened.
Information taken from http://www.childrensnational.org/PulseOx/FAQ.aspx
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