Neonatology: pulse oximetry for critical congenital heart disease: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Pediatrics · Neonatology: pulse oximetry for critical congenital heart disease

Sample item

A healthy-looking term newborn is screened at 24 hours with pulse oximetry. Which result is a positive screen needing echocardiography?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. SpO2 below 90 percent in either limb

Critical CHD screening uses pre- and post-ductal saturations after 24 hours. A saturation below 90 percent, or below 95 percent in both limbs on repeat testing, or a difference above 3 percent, is positive and needs echocardiography.

Option by option

  • A. SpO2 below 90 percent in either limb (correct)

    Correct. A saturation below 90 percent is an immediate fail.

  • B. Heart rate of 140 per minute

    Heart rate alone is not part of the screening result.

  • C. SpO2 of 97 percent in right hand and 98 percent in foot

    Saturations of 97 and 98 percent are a pass.

  • D. SpO2 of 96 percent in both

    96 percent in both limbs is a pass.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is A, SpO2 below 90 percent in either limb. Critical CHD screening uses pre- and post-ductal saturations after 24 hours.

Why is "Heart rate of 140 per minute" not the answer?

Heart rate alone is not part of the screening result.

Why is "SpO2 of 97 percent in right hand and 98 percent in foot" not the answer?

Saturations of 97 and 98 percent are a pass.

Why is "SpO2 of 96 percent in both" not the answer?

96 percent in both limbs is a pass.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Neonatology: pulse oximetry for critical congenital heart disease in Pediatrics. A saturation below 90 percent, or below 95 percent in both limbs on repeat testing, or a difference above 3 percent, is positive and needs echocardiography.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Neonatology: pulse oximetry for critical congenital heart disease?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.