Recommended Changes to Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening by Pulse Oximetry in Newborns

In 2011, an algorithm for pulse oximetry screening in newborns to detect critical congenital heart disease was published and subsequently endorsed by medical societies and U.S. federal health agencies (Pediatrics 2011; 128:e1259). The ongoing publication of data from U.S. state-level programs and from national studies in the U.S. and Europe has allowed for a reassessment of the algorithm.

An expert panel met to address five possible changes to the original algorithm:

1. Screen using only lower extremity (postductal saturations of either foot)

2. Change lower limit of saturation cutoff to 95% for both preductal and postductal measurements

3. Eliminate second retest

4. Change the preductal and postductal differential saturation to 2%

5. Earlier scr…