A new study has outlined the importance of conducting a simple blood test on newborns to ascertain congenital heart problems which can effecively save thousands of lives.
According to study's authors, routine screening of blood oxygen levels before discharge from hospital improves the detection of life threatening congenital heart disease in newborns and save lives.
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Between one and two babies per 1,000 live births enter the world with an immediately life-threatening heart condition - due to a foetal blood vessel remaining open - and current screening techniques fail to detect the abnormality in many newborns.
But the introduction of a pulse oximetry screening procedure - lasting around five minutes - could improve the detection of critical congenital heart disease.
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A low concentration of oxygen could signal a heart problem and would require further investigation.
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The introduction of pulse oximetry screening in the West Gotaland region improved the total detection of duct dependent heart disease to 92 per cent, a significant increase on the 72 per cent detection rate in regions not using the screening technique.
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The authors conclude: "Such screening seems cost neutral in the short term, but the probable prevention of neurological morbidity and reduced need for preoperative neonatal intensive care suggest that such screening will be cost effective long term."
Source-ANI
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