Maryland Department of Health
Office of Children and Youth with Specific Health Care Needs

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Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening Program

​443-681-3916​​

Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) is defined as a heart defect that is present at birth and can cause serious illness or even death if not detected in the first few weeks of life. Unfortunately, not all CCHD can be detected at birth but some types can be detected using a simple and painless pulse oximetry test. The seven CCHD defects targeted by pulse oximetry screening are:
(Click on the links below to view and download information)
It is important to remember that Pulse Oximetry Screening may not detect these defects 100% of the time and it may also pick up other heart defects or illnesses in the infant.

If a baby does not “pass” the pulse oximetry screening, further evaluation is needed right away to see if the baby does have a CCHD. This evaluation should be done before the baby leaves the hospital! 1 in 100 babies are born with a congenital heart defect.
The CCHD screening results are reported electronically to the State of Maryland for surveillance and quality assurance monitoring.
For Parents
 

For Providers

 

Office of Children and Youth ​with Specific Health Care Needs
201 West Preston Street - Baltimore, MD 21201
Tel (410) 767-6730   Fax (410) 333-5047
 
June, 2020
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Did You Know?
 
·         According to the CDC congenital heart defects account for 24% of infant  deaths due to birth defects.
·         In the United States approximately 4,800 babies born every year have one of the seven critical congenital heart defects.