Screening
Early Identification of heart defects and heart disease in children is crucial to successful outcomes. In addition to basic information about this important tool in recognizing heart problems – pulse oximetry – you can also find links or attachments to some of the existing and ongoing research being conducted in an effort to make this screening universal for newborns (below).
What is Newborn Screening with Pulse Oximetry?
Pulse oximetry monitoring uses a light source and sensor to measure oxygen in the blood.
A soft, wrapped sensor is wrapped around the baby’s foot.
Light passing through the foot measures the amount of oxygen in the blood.
The test is quick (3-5 minutes) and painless. Pulse oximetry monitoring should detect most heart defects.
Why is it important to check babies for heart defects?
If undetected, some congenital heart defects can cause serious or even life-threatening problems. Early detection and early treatment lead to better outcomes.
Why check the blood oxygen level with pulse oximetry?
A low oxygen saturation level may indicate the presence of a heart defect.
What are the benefits of the screening?
Babies are less likely to be sent home with unidentified heart problems – some of which can cause acute, emergency situations or even death. If identified in the first 24-48 hours of life, medical teams are available for diagnosis and treatment of CHDs. Critical congenital heart defects, requiring immediate treatment or repair, can be performed before discharge from the hospital.
Will screening find all types of heart defects?
No current screening tool exists to detect CHDs 100 percent of the time. Pulse oximetry screening should detect most heart defects (those associated with a low blood oxygen level). However, some heart detects may not be found on screening (those not associated with a low blood oxygen level).
What will happen if a baby has a low blood oxygen level?
The pulse oximetry test will be done again. If the level is still lower than expected, then an echocardiogram (sonogram of the heart) will be done. A pediatric cardiologist will ‘read’ the echocardiogram to check for the presence of a heart defect. If a CHD is found, the pediatric cardiologist will start collaborating on those findings and working on treatment options. Most heart defects can be corrected or improved with surgery, procedures and/or medications.
What are the other signs and symptoms of heart defects parents can watch for?
• Baby tires easily during feeding (falls asleep before feeding finishes)
• Sweating around the head, especially during feeding
• Fast breathing when at rest or sleeping
• Pale or bluish skin color
• Poor weight gain
• Sleeps a lot, not playful or curious for any length of time
• Puffy face, hands and/or feet
• Often irritable, difficult to console
Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) are defects that are present at birth and affect the structure or function of the heart or vessels.
• Heart defects are the most common birth defect.
• CHDs occur in approximately one of every 100 births.
• About 40,000 babies with CHD are born in the US each year.
• Heart defects are the leading cause of newborn and infant death.
• Although some babies will be diagnosed before birth or at birth, sometimes the diagnosis is not made until days, weeks, months or even years later.
To view newly published findings from the German multicenter pulse ox study: http://1in100.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Riede-et-al_Germany-Pulse-Ox.pdf
To view the 2009 statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association: http://1in100.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/peds.PULSE-OX-STATEMENT_2009-1397v1.pdf
AnnaMarie,
Our adopted son was born with TGA, Pulmonary Stenosis, and Double Inlet Left Ventricle (Single Ventricle). We found this out only because the small rural hospital apparently did a pulse ox in a panel of tests prior to circumcision (which they subsequently did not do). So, we are a living testimony to the need for routine pulse oximetry.
In order to campaign for legislation for this need, do we go to our state legislature or is this something mandated at the national level? I read your article — very well done!
Thanks for filling me in on what you’ve done!
Blessings,
Pam
Pam, I think I may have emailed you already, but I just wanted to thank you again for reaching out. We need as many of these stories as possible. Hopefully I explained the state legislation vs universal screening via HHS stuff in a way that made sense. Let’s keep in touch as things progress up to the May national committee meeting on newborn screening OK? Thanks again! Annamarie
Annamarie:
I did get your email – thanks so much! I am very interested in being involved but am getting through a few things that came up here. I will be in touch though!
Tiffany
tmyttyklein@cox.net
our baby had the pulse ox test done after a few hours old she passed with 100% we took our beautiful baby home only to find 10 days later she was going blue and after heart scans found out she was born with tof i feel this test has let our baby down we are lucky to have found out before some think happend to her no body has still not told me why this let her down
I was studying a book in our library and I was so amazed at the things that the author highlighted in the book. He basically talked about life in general and how people disregard a lot of significant things and spending most of their time worrying on irrelevant things.