Screening for Heart Disease in Infants: Stethoscope Still Needed

Investigators from the Children’s Hospital of Fudan University and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Birth Defects in China conducted a multicenter prospective observational study to assess the accuracy of adding cardiac auscultation to pulse oximetry (POX) screening in the detection of congenital heart disease (CHD). All asymptomatic neonates born at 1 of 15 participating hospitals received cardiac auscultation immediately followed by POX by the same clinician. A positive screen was defined as a grade II or greater murmur on auscultation or one of the following on POX screening: SpO₂ <90% in either limb or SpO₂ of <95% in either limb and/or >3% difference between limbs. All neonates with a positive screen received echocardiography within 24 hours. All neonates with a negative screen were followed up at 6 weeks of age to assess their clinical status and for …