Pulse Oximetry Screening Adapted to a System with Home Births: The Dutch Experience

Ilona C Narayen; Nico A Blom; Arjan B Te Pas

doi:10.3390/ijns4020011

Pulse Oximetry Screening Adapted to a System with Home Births: The Dutch Experience

Int J Neonatal Screen. 2018 Mar 30;4(2):11. doi: 10.3390/ijns4020011. eCollection 2018 Jun.

Authors

Ilona C Narayen¹, Nico A Blom², Arjan B Te Pas¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Paediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9200, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
² Division of Paediatric Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Neonatal screening for critical congenital heart defects is proven to be safe, accurate, and cost-effective. The screening has been implemented in many countries across all continents in the world. However, screening for critical congenital heart defects after home births had not been studied widely yet. The Netherlands is known for its unique perinatal care system with a high rate of home births (18%) and early discharge after an uncomplicated delivery in hospital. We report a feasibility, accuracy, and acceptability study performed in the Dutch perinatal care system. Screening newborns for critical congenital heart defects using pulse oximetry is feasible after home births and early discharge, and acceptable to mothers. The accuracy of the test is comparable to other early-screening settings, with a moderate sensitivity and high specificity.

Keywords: congenital heart defects; home births; neonates; screening.

Publication types

Review