Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Defects: One Positive Case Over Eight Years. What Does This Mean?

Date of submission: 03-09-2019 | Date of acceptance: 09-02-2020 | Published: 01-07-2020

Abstract

Neonatal screening for congenital heart defects is a standard procedure. However, its low yield is being questioned particularly due to robust prenatal screening programs.  Nevertheless, some lesions, such as total anomalous pulmonary venous return, have a low prenatal diagnosis pick-up rate. In this context, pulse oximetry has an important role in its diagnosis.

We report a case of a newborn with total anomalous pulmonary venous return with normal prenatal scans in which pulse oxymetry contributed positively to the diagnosis. In eight years of screening with pulse oximetry, this was the only case diagnosed in our center.