Title: Cardiovascular Disease in Children
Course: NUR 1411C Nursing for the Family Part 2 > Section: Module 4

Cardiovascular Disease in infants and children are either acquired or congenital. Congenital heart defects are related to anatomic abnormalities that occur during fetal life. The clinical consequences of congenital heart are congestive heart failure and hypoxemia.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the module the student will be able to:

- Discuss the etiology, maternal risk factors associated with infants with suspected congenital heart disease.
- Discuss the diagnostic studies commonly used to diagnose infants and children with suspected congenital heart disease and the implications of each study:
  - Chest xray
  - EKG
  - Echocardiogram
  - Cardiac Catheterization
- Discuss signs and symptoms commonly seen in infants and children with congenital heart disease.
- Compare and describe the following congenital heart diseases:
  - Increased pulmonary blood flow: patent ductus arteriosis, arterial andventricular septal defects
  - Decreased pulmonary blood flow: Tetralogy of Fallot
  - Obstructive defects: Coarctation of the aorta
- Describe the causes of a "tet spell" and nursing interventions.
- Discuss signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure as it relates to congenital heart disease.
- Discuss the medications used for medical management for a child with congestive heart failure. Include cautions and precautions for the following drugs to include:
  - Digoxin
  - Furosemide
  - Captopril
  - Aldactone
  - Diuril
- Formulate a plan of care for the home management of the child congestive heart failur:
  - Medication administration
  - Meeting nutritional needs of the child/feeding techniques
  - Meeting the developmental and psychosocial needs of child/family
  - Developmentally appropriate patient education of disease process and treatment
- Define hypoxemia, describe the physiologic changes that occur in chronic hypoxemia in with congestive heart failure. Discuss the nursing management.
- Define prevention and treatment measure for bacterial endocarditis.

Readings

- Chapter 48: p.1442-1474

Websites - Video Lectures

All open in new window, 3-6 minutes each

- Fetal Circulation and Baby's First Breath
- Examination of the Heart (Positions of Murmur radiation included)
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Tetralogy of Fallot Defects