New research commissioned by the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme, a programme of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), is investigating whether the use of pulse oximetry as a screening test for congenital heart disease, could help save the lives of more newborn babies.
Research led by Dr Andrew Ewer, at the University of Birmingham, is investigating whether pulse oximetry screening is a more effective test than clinical examination alone. Pulse oximetry screening is a quick and painless method that measures the concentration of oxygen in the blood through a small probe placed on a hand and foot for a few minutes before the baby leaves hospital. If a baby has a low concentration of oxygen this could be a sign of a heart problem and they will be referred for further investigation.
The research will be carried out at six hospitals in the West Midlands to determine the accuracy and cost effectiveness of the test. Researchers will also investigate how acceptable the test is to parents. “Recognising life-threatening heart abnormalities in newborn babies early is vital, as deterioration with some treatable problems may be sudden, resulting in death before diagnosis,” says Dr Ewer. “We hope this research will identify an effective and cost-effective method for improving the chance of survival for many newborns affected by congenital heart disease.”
