Abstract

Among all Birth defects, Congenital Heart disease (CHD) is most common congenital anomalies with preponderance of around 6 to 8 per 1000 live births. Children born with CHD in India is more than 200,000 per year out of which one- fifth are likely to have Critical congenital heart disease(CCHDs). Methodology that have been proposed to work on early identification of congenital heart disease includes prenatal ultrasound screening, prolonged hospital stay after delivery. Pulse oximetry (SpO2) has presented as one such strategy. Pulse Oximetry is the first, relatively simple approach has been used for universal screening of congenital heart diseases. Methodology- The study was conducted on 600 neonates visiting paediatric outpatient department (OPD) and admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at tertiary care centre between January 2020 to December 2021. All relevant information was recorded in case record form (CRF). All neonates were examined for vital parameters including Tachycardia, Tachypnea (RR>60/Min), Murmur. Pulse oximetry readings (after stable signals) were taken for right upper limb. All neonates with abnormal Pulse oximetry were subjected to observations at 6 hours after birth. Any of the readings at 6 hours were taken as positive. Results- Mean Gestational age of the newborns was 38.11 ± 0.86944 days. mean birth weight of the newborns was 2.66 ± 0.38 kg. The SpO2 levels for four limbs at 6 hrs for right upper limb were 97% ± 3.81%. Distribution of newborn according to heart rate was, 99.6% were normal while only 0.4% had tachycardia, 97.6% had normal respiratory rate, while 2.4% had tachypnoea. 0.4% babies had Murmur. Conclusion- The study concludes that use of pulse oximetry results in early detection of CHD. Pulse oximetry has an additive effect and results in more efficient screening.

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