Various imaging and laboratory tests can help determine if a baby has persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn. These may include:
- Chest X-rays to determine if the baby has lung disease or an enlarged heart
- Echocardiogram — an ultrasound of the heart — to determine if the baby has heart or lung disease and evaluate blood flow in those organs
- Ultrasound of the head to look for bleeding in the brain
- Arterial blood gas (ABG) to determine how well oxygen is being delivered to the body
- Complete blood count (CBC) to measure the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
- Serum electrolyte tests to evaluate the balance of minerals in the blood
- Lumbar puncture, also called a spinal tap, and blood tests to help determine whether the baby has an infection
- Pulse oximetry, which measures oxygen levels in the blood, to help monitor whether the baby's tissues are receiving enough oxygen
Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.
Last updated July 14, 2010
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