How many times should a newborn be examined before discharge?

[Gonzalo Ares]

In the nursery, how many times do you have to exam the well newborn?
We exam the baby twice: in first 24 hours and before discharge.
I have been told that only one exam is needed. Any reference?

[Stefan Johansson]

This is how we do it (not why...)
* infants >24 h postnatal age - one examination before discharge from maternity
* infants discharged home before 24 h postnatal age - one examination before discharge and one examination at the follow-up visit at 48-72 h postnatal age

We do (not yet) perform pulse saturation screening.

I know there are references (in ADC I'm sure) - will see if I can find these later!

[JACK]

Pulse oximetry screening...yes definitely promising

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/338/jan08_2/a3037?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=%22Impact+of+pulse+oximetry+screening+on+ the+detection+of+duct+dependent+congenital+heart+d isease%3A+a+Swedish+prospective+screening+study+in +39+821+newborns%22&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=date&resourcetype=HWCIT
(free article)


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17344253?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsP anel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=5&log$=relatedreviews&logdbfrom=pubmed

[Stefan Johansson]

This was the article I was thinking about... also published as a Leading Article at 99nicu!
http://www.99nicu.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14351

Some Swedish experience: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18394103

[Gonzalo Ares]

Thank you for your responses. Now I will consider if we should change...