Recent study revealed that a brief test known as pulse oximetry screening on newborn babies can help in detection of duct dependent congenital heart disease.

One or two babies per 1000 live births are born with immediately life threatening heart abnormality, because a fetal blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus - which bypasses the baby's non-functioning lungs when in the uterus and normally closes off soon after birth - remains partly open. Current screening techniques fail to detect the abnormality in many newborns.

Research team led by Professor Ostman-Smith at the Queen Silvia Children's Hospital and Sahlgrenska Academy of Gothenburg University in Sweden screened nearly
40,000 babies born between July 1st 2004 and March 31st 2007.

Researchers found that the introduction of pulse oximetry screening in the West Gotaland region improved the total detection of duct dependent heart disease to 92 per cent, a significant increase on the 72 per cent detection rate in regions not using the screening technique.

Study also revealed that the risk of leaving hospital with an undiagnosed duct dependent circulation was therefore eight per cent in West Gotaland compared to 28 per cent in the other regions.

The researchers conclude: "Such screening seems cost neutral in the short term, but the probable prevention of neurological morbidity and reduced need for preoperative neonatal intensive care suggest that such screening will be cost effective long term."