Accelerated pulse oximetry in the neonate: a proposal

Abstract

Pulse oximetry is used as a screening test for critical congenital heart disease. Current algorithms involve one or to re-screenings for some patients. That may take 2-8 hours before a diagnosis is made. I propose that after the initial screen, patients who do not pass the test be given a short exposure to high oxygen concentration in order to eliminate lung disease as a cause of the desaturation.