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

Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by the Ramathibodi Research Fund (ID 01-53-05). We express our sincere thanks and gratitude to all infants and their parents who participated in the study, the staff of the postpartum nurseries and to Sam Ormond for her editorial assistance.

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Correspondence to P Nuntnarumit.

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Nuntnarumit, P., Thanomsingh, P., Limrungsikul, A. et al. Pulse oximetry screening for critical congenital heart diseases at two different hospital settings in Thailand. J Perinatol 38, 181–184 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2017.168

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2017.168

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