How useful is pulse oximetry for screening of congenital heart disease in newborns?

In the initial pilot study at three hospitals in Shanghai, the authors assessed the accuracy of pulse oximetry plus clinical assessment for detection of congenital heart disease. They then undertook a large, prospective, and multicenter screening study in all consecutive neonates (aged 6–72 h) born at 18 hospitals in China between August 1, 2011, and November 30, 2012. Newborns with positive screen results (either an abnormal pulse oximetry or abnormal clinical assessment) were referred for echocardiography within 24 h of screening. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and positive and negative likelihood ratios for pulse oximetry alone, and in combination with clinical assessment, for detection of major and critical congenital heart disease were calculated.