Abstract
We investigated oxygen concentration before and during transport in neonates with congenital heart disease (CHD) to improve the preoperative management of such patients. Sixty-four neonates with CHD were transported by car to our hospital from January 1989 to October 1993. Oxygen concentration during transport as compared with before transport increased in 13 cases, decreased in 21 cases, and was unchanged in 30 cases. The mean concentration in patients with ductus arteriosus-dependent CHD (n=37) was decreased, while that in patients with high pulmonary flow (n=20) was unchanged. In contrast, the mean concentration in patients with low pulmonary flow (n=7) was increased. The management of neonates with CHD in our hospital is reasonable, because excessive oxygen supply has an adverse effect on neonatal CHD.
