Newborn Congenital Heart Disease Screening Requirements
In 2011 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius approved adding CCHD (critical congenital heart disease) screening to the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel. A number of states have now passed legislation requiring newborns to have pulse oximetry screening to detect critical congenital heart defects. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), “in the context of newborn screening using pulse oximetry, seven defects are classified as CCHD: Hypoplastic left heart syndrome; Pulmonary atresia (with intact septum); Tetralogy of fallot; Total Anomalous pulmonary venous return; Transposition of the great arteries; Tricuspid atreasia; and Truncus arteriosus.” Which means, in the United States, about 4,800 babies are born each year with CCHDs.
Hospitals across the nation have started implementing this screening process. Requirements for screening are different in each state, so be sure to check your particular state guidelines. The CDC offers a status map on their website at www.cchdscreeningmap.com.
Since pulse oximetry is used to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood, it is the recommended screening method for detecting CCHDs. Some of the equipment requirements include:
• Must be validated in low-perfusion conditions
• Must have been cleared by the FDA for use in newborns
• Must be motion-tolerant and report functional oxygen saturation
• Must be calibrated regularly based on manufacturer guidelines
The MD Buyline database includes a wide variety of pulse oximetry products. The highest purchasing activity is with Massimo and Nellcor (Covidien). Pulse oximetry monitors range from $1,800 to $3,000 depending on the model configuration. In addition to the pulse oximetry equipment, there are the associated supplies to consider. Reusable sensors range from $140 to $160 each. The Buyline Consumable database reflects prices starting at $9.50 each for disposable sensors.
Megan-I have been reading your blog for about a year now but this is my first time to cnemmot.Our son was also saved by a pulse ox machine and by a miracle from GOD. He was born a few days after his due date and weighed 9lbs 1oz. It just so happened that there were a lot of new babies born the same day and so they had to pull a NNICU RN to come work the new born nursey. By the grace of god she was Carter’s RN. She noticed that his pulse in his lower extremities was not as good as the pulse in his upper extremities. To make a long story short, he ultimately had an echo that indicated that he had severe Mitral Valve regurgitation and as a result pulmonary hypertension. He had multiple echos in the days following and they just kept getting worse. He had numerous tests to look at his heart to see if he had any congenital defects and they could not find anything physically wrong with his heart. We were facing a heart transplant, but one of teh cardiologists suggesting treating him for myocarditis on the off chance that it was an infection causing all of his issues (despite the fact that they had tested him for all the viruses and bacterial agents that cause it and the tests were negative). It worked…something worked. Our cardiologist still calls him one of God’s miracles and is still unsure of what caused him to be sooo sick and in a matter of 24 hours turn the corner so quickly. One of the Neonatologists told us that had we taken him home, he very well could have been a SIDS Victim. Mainly because he looked so good. He was nursing well and gaining weight. He didn’t have the appearance a baby with cardiac issues or myocarditis usually presents with.I commend what you are doing!!!Sincerely, Amy