Adult Cardiac Sonographer Performing Echocardiography to Screen for Critical Congenital Heart Disease in the Newborn
Publication Date: February 28, 2021
Last Updated: March 14, 2022
Key Points
- A common feature of C-CHD is hypoxemia leading to cyanosis. However, this can be difficult to detect in infants with pigmented skin.
- Based on recommendations from the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Cardiology Foundation, and the American Heart Association, there has been an increased push for routine screening of newborns by pulse oximetry screening in the last decade.
- A failed POS mandates immediate evaluation for C-CHD, including echocardiography.
- The purpose of this document is to provide the adult sonographer, who does not typically screen for C-CHD, with the essential information and tools needed to detect C-CHD in newborns and aid in life-saving diagnosis.
Recommendations
- Centers performing screening echocardiograms in newborns should have a formal relationship with a physician or referral center with expertise in C-CHD.
- These centers should also have available high-frequency transducers, ECG leads, a mechanism for storage and transmission of images, and a structured two-way communication plan.
- The interpreting pediatric cardiologist should work with the referring center to develop a method to relay a final report.
Recommendations
- Adult cardiac sonographers performing neonatal screening echocardiograms should commit to learning non-standard, traditionally pediatric imaging views and sweeps to appropriately identify C-CHD.
- The interpreting pediatric cardiologist should work with the referring center to develop a scanning protocol to screen for C-CHD.
- Adult cardiac sonographers should have familiarity with ‘red flag’ findings and urgently communicate those findings, if present, to their pediatric cardiology partners.
6731
Recommendation Grading
Overview
Title
Adult Cardiac Sonographer Performing Echocardiography to Screen for Critical Congenital Heart Disease in the Newborn
Authoring Organization
American Society of Echocardiography
Publication Month/Year
February 28, 2021
Last Updated Month/Year
August 29, 2024
Supplemental Implementation Tools
Document Type
Guideline
External Publication Status
Published
Country of Publication
US
Inclusion Criteria
Female, Male, Infant
Health Care Settings
Ambulatory, Childcare center, Hospital
Intended Users
Physician, nurse midwife, nurse, nurse practitioner, physician assistant
Scope
Assessment and screening
Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)
D007231 - Infant, Newborn, D006330 - Heart Defects, Congenital
Keywords
screening, echocardiography, Critical congenital heart disease, Community hospital, Newborn nursery, congenital malformations, adult sonographer