A systematic review of novel technology for monitoring infant and newborn heart rate

Abstract

This systematic review identified seven new technologies, including camera-based photoplethysmography, reflectance pulse oximetry, laser Doppler methods, capacitive sensors, piezoelectric sensors, electromyography and a digital stethoscope. Clinicians should be aware of several of these, which may become available for clinical use in the near future.

Accurate and fast neonatal heart rate assessment with a smartphone‐based application – a manikin study

“…In healthy newborn infants, brachial and femoral pulses are not reliable for determining heart rates and umbilical pulsations must not be relied upon whether they are low or absent . Two reviews have pointed out problems with the inaccuracy of existing methods .…”

“…In one simulation study, where study participants assessed heart rates by registering the heart rate tapped out by an examiner using his or her finger, the estimated heart rates showed little accuracy, especially at rates of <60 beats per minute . The need to develop a rapid and accurate method for determining heart rate during newborn resuscitation has been highlighted .…”

“…A systematic review, published in 2017, explored the accuracy of seven new technologies for monitoring the heart rates of newborn infants and compared them to current reference standards . The authors suggested that pairing digital stethoscopes with a smartphone might improve global assessments of heart rate, including resource‐limited settings.…”

“…The authors suggested that pairing digital stethoscopes with a smartphone might improve global assessments of heart rate, including resource‐limited settings. However, they concluded that the seven new technologies tested could not be recommended as suitable for widespread clinical use at that stage .…”

Heart Rate Assessment during Neonatal Resuscitation

“…There are several emerging HR assessment technologies, which have been recently summarized in There are several emerging HR assessment technologies, which have been summarized over the recent years in three systematic reviews (Table 2; Figure 1A,B) [15,41,54]. These novel technologies can be classified as contact (i.e., ECG, PO, dry-electrode ECG, electrical velocimetry, reflectance photoplethysmography, electromyography), intermittent contact (i.e., auscultation/palpation, Doppler ultrasound, digital stethoscope), non-contact or sensor-based (i.e., camera-based photoplethysmography, capacitive sensors, piezoelectric sensors, laser Doppler vibrometry), and assistive technologies (i.e., tap-based smartphone apps).…”