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Objective:Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening is effective in asymptomatic late preterm and term newborn infants with a low false-positive rate (0.035%). (1) To compare 2817 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharges before and after implementation of CCHD screening; and (2) to evaluate CCHD screening at <35 weeks gestation.Study Design:Collection of results of CCHD screening including pre- and postductal pulse oximetry oxygen saturation (SpO2) values.Result:During the pre-CCHD screen period, 1247 infants were discharged from the NICU and one case of CCHD was missed. After 1 March 2012, 1508 CCHD screens were performed among 1570 discharges and no CCHDs were missed. The pre- and postductal SpO2 values were 98.8±1.4% and 99±1.3%, respectively, in preterm and 98.9±1.3% and 98.9±1.4%, respectively, in term infants. Ten infants had false-positive screens (10/1508=0.66%).Conclusion:Performing universal screening in the NICU is feasible but is associated with a higher false-positive rate compared with asymptomatic newborn infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in neonates with respiratory failure for more than three decades. It notes that three randomized studies showed superior survival with ECLS compared with conventional mechanical ventilation to treat severe respiratory failure in term neonates. It mentions a review of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry for the use of ECLS in neonates with respiratory failure which reported an 85 percent survival.