Saturation screening for neonatal hypoxaemia within 6h of life: Not all about congenital cardiac disease.

Abstract

To assess the outcomes of an early oxygen saturation screening programme in apparently healthy newborns for the detection of cardiac and non-cardiac disease. To describe the aetiology and incidence of infants with oxygen saturations <95% in the first 6h of life and describe the management to discharge. In addition, we sought to identify any risk factors for failed early saturations. This is a retrospective hospital cohort assessing outcomes of an early saturation screening programme performed in apparently healthy newborns. Infants with oxygen saturations less than 95% were identified and their clinical notes were hand-searched. Descriptive statistics were used to present demographics, proportion of infants who passed or failed screening, subsequent diagnoses and short-term outcome. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent associations of clinical factors (birthweight, gestation, elective caesarean section and gender) with failed screening. Between 2014 and 2019, 14 956 healthy newborns were assessed within the first 6h, 94 (0.63%) failed the early saturation screen. The most common causes for saturation <95% were respiratory disease or delayed transition. There were 31 (33%) infants admitted to the NICU with an additional baby requiring emergency transfer to a cardiac centre. Infants were 28 times more likely to have saturations <95% if born by elective caesarean section (odds ratio 28, conflict of interest (18.54-42.82)). In apparently healthy newborns, early assessment of oxygen saturation, combined with clinical assessment and subsequent intervention can identify important conditions and should be considered as standard care.