New Research Shows Masimo Perfusion Index (PI) Effective in the Noninvasive Detection of Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) i...(atal screening failsmainly in children w...),Health

Granelli and Ostman-Smith conducted single pre- and postductal measurements of PI using the Masimo Radical SET Pulse Oximeter in a total of 10,000 healthy newborns (ranging in age from 1 hour to five days) and established PI reference values of healthy babies. In establishing reference values that validate possible PI indices for normal vs. disease state in newborns, researchers were able to show that low PI values may correspond to illness.

Study results showed that combined neonatal examination and oxygen saturation screening detected only 78% of the newborns with LHOD, but when PI was added, 100% of all newborns with LHOD showed abnormalities -- indicating that PI may reflect abnormal blood flow from the heart in CHD newborns. All LHOD newborns had either pre- or postductal PI values below the interquartile cut-off value of 1.18 and five had values below a potential cut-off of 0.70, leading researchers to conclude that "PI values lower than 0.70 may indicate illness and a value less than 0.50 indicates definite underperfusion."

Study findings suggest that a combination of saturation screening cut-offs with PI value cut-offs may help improve the early detection of congenital heart defects that have duct-dependent systemic circulation. As a result, researchers concluded that PI is a "promising tool for improving the detection of critical congenital heart disease with duct-dependent systemic circulation."(1)

Joe E. Kiani, Chairman and CEO of Masimo stated, "When we introduced Masimo SET ten years ago, we knew that the improved accuracy and fidelity would allow clinicians to more tightly control the arterial oxygen levels of their patients, but it is truly remarkable to see research like this where our technology is being used to improve screening for congenital heart defects. We are all indebted to clinicians like these from Gothenburg University who are constan
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