Download Module 5 – Pediatric Cardiac Disorders

Module 5
Pediatric Cardiac Disorders
Fetal Circulation
Main Blood Flow
 Placenta  Umbilical
Vein  Liver  Ductus
Venosus  Inferior
Vena Cava
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Vena Cava  Right
Atrium Foramen
Ovale Left Atrium 
Left Ventricle 
Aorta Body
Fetal Circulation
Secondary Route:
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Right Atrium 
Right Ventricle 
Pulmonary Artery 
Ductus Arteriosus 
(so does not go to lungs)
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
Aorta 
Body
Fetal Circulation
Third route of blood flow
 Right Atrium 
 Right Ventricle 
 Pulmonary Artery 
 Lungs (needs to perfuse the
lungs and upper body with
oxygen) 
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Left Atrium 
Left Ventricle 
Aorta 
Body
Transition from Fetal Circulation to
Pulmonary circulation
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The umbilical arteries and vein and the ductus
venosus become non-functional
Decreased pulmonary vascular resistance and
increased pulmonary blood flow
Increase in pressure of the left atrium, decrease
pressure in right atrium, causing closure of
foramen ovale.
Pulmonary resistance is less than systematic
resistance so there is left-to-right shunting
resulting in closure of the ductus arteriosus.
Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure
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The inability of the myocardium to circulate
enough oxygenated blood to meet the
demands of the body.
When the heart fails, cardiac output is
diminished. Heart rate, preload,
contractitility, and afterload are affected.
Peripheral tissue is not adequately
perfused.
Congestion in lungs and periphery
develops.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
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Congenital defects – allow blood to flow from
the left side of the heart to the right so that
extra blood is pumped to the pulmonary
system rather than through the aorta when the
ventricle contracts.
Obstructive congenital defects – restricts the
flow of blood so the heart hypertrophies to
work harder to force blood through the
narrowed structures. The hypertrophied
muscle becomes ineffective.
Other defects which weaken the heart muscle.
Compensatory Mechanisms

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Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system
which releases norepinephrine from the adrenals.
This stimulates blood vessels to constrict and an
increase in the heart rate.
Tachycardia increases venous return to the heart
which stretches the myocardial fibers and
increases preload. Only successful for short
period of time.
Increased renin and ADH secretion caused by
decrease renal perfusion. Resultant increase in
Na and H2O retention to increase fluid to the
heart and leading to edema
Signs and Symptoms
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Tires easily during feeding
Periorbital edema, weight gain
Rales and rhonchi
Dyspnea, orthopnea, tachypnea
Diaphoretic / sweating
Tachycardia
Failure to gain weight
Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure

Medication Therapy
 Digitalis – increases contractility and decreases
heart rate.

ACE-inhibitors - arterial vasodilator / afterload
reducing agent
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Diuretics - enhance renal secretion of sodium and
water by reducing circulating blood volume and
decreasing preload.

Beta Blocker - increases contractility
Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure

Diet – low sodium, small frequent feedings
(be sure you can pick the right foods for a low NA diet.
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Nursing care:
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Measure intake and output – weighing diapers
Observe for changes in peripheral edema and
circulation
If ascites present – take serial abdominal
measurements to monitor changes.
Skin care
Turning schedule
Congenital Cardiac Anomalies
Defects that increase pulmonary
blood flow
Patent Ductus Arterious
Atrial septal defects
Ventricle septal defects
Atrial Septal Defect
1. Oxygenated blood is shunted
from left to right side of the
heart via defect
2. A larger volume of blood
than normal must be
handled by the right side of
the heart hypertrophy
3. Extra blood then passes
through the pulmonary
artery into the lungs,
causing higher pressure
than normal in the blood
vessels in the lungs 
congestive heart failure
Treatment

Medical Management
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Cardiac Catheterizaton 
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Medications – digoxin
Amplatzer septal occluder
Open-heart Surgery
Cardiac Catheterization
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Pre-care:
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History and Physical
Lab work – EKG, ECHO cardiogram, CBC
NPO
Preprocedural teaching
Post Care:
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Monitor vital signs
Monitor extremity distal to the catheter instertion,
Keep leg immobilized
Vital signs
Check for bleeding at insertion site
Measure I&O
Treatment

Device Closure – Amplatzer septal
occluder
During cardiac catheterization the occluder is placed in the
Defect
Ventricle Septal Defect
1. Oxygenated blood is shunted
from left to right side of the
heart via defect
2. A larger volume of blood
than normal must be
handled by the right side of
the heart hypertrophy
3. Extra blood then passes
through the pulmonary
artery into the lungs,
causing higher pressure
than normal in the blood
vessels in the lungs 
congestive heart failure
Treatment
Surgical repair with a patch inserted
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
1. Blood shunts from
aorta (left) to the
pulmonary artery
(right)
2. Returns to the lungs
causing increase
pressure in the lung
3. Congestive heart
failure
Treatment for PDA
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Medical Mangement
 Medication
 Indomethacin - inhibits prostaglandin's
which help keep the ductus arteriosus
open
Surgery
Ligate the
ductus arteriosus
Treatment for PDA

Cardiac Catheterization
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Insert coil – tiny fibers
occlude the ductus
arteriosus when a
thrombus forms in
the mass of fabric and
wire
Defects with decrease blood flow and
mixed defects
Pulmonic stenosis
Tetralogy of fallot
Transposition of the great arteries
Truncus arteriosus
Pulmonic Stenosis

Narrowing of entrance that
decreases blood flow
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Treatment:
 Medications – Prostaglandins to keep the
PDA open
 Cardiac Catheterization
 Baloon Valvuloplasty
 Surgery
 Valvotomy
Tetralogy of Fallot
Four defects are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Signs and Symptoms
1.
Failure to thrive
2.
Squatting
3.
Lack of energy
4.
Infections
5.
Polycythemia
6.
Clubbing of fingers
7.
Cerebral absess
8.
Cardiomegaly
Treatment

Surgical interventions
 Blalock – Taussig or Potts procedure –
increases blood flow to the lungs.

Open heart surgery
Transposition of Great Vessels
 Aorta arises from the right
ventricle, and the pulmonary
artery arises from the left
ventricle - which is not
compatible with survival
unless there is a large defect
present in ventricular or
atrial septum.
artery
aorta
Truncus arteriosus
 A single arterial trunk
arises from both
ventricles that supplies
the systemic,
pulmonary, and
coronary circulations. A
vsd and a single,
defective, valve also
exist.
 Entire systemic
circulation supplied from
common trunk.
Defects obstructing Systemic blood
flow
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Aortic stenosis
Coarctation of the Aorta
Coarctation of the Aorta
1. Narrowing of Aorta causing
obstruction of left
ventricular blood flow
2. Left ventricular hypertrophy
Signs and Symptoms
1.
 B/P in upper extremities
2.
B/P in lower extremities
3.
Radial pulses full/bounding and
femoral or popliteal pulses weak
or absent
4. Leg pains, fatigue
5.
Nose bleeds
Treatment
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Goals of management are to improve ventricular
function and restore blood flow to the lower body.
Medical management with Medication
 A continuous intravenous medication,
prostaglandin (PGE-1), is used to open the ductus
arteriosus (and maintain it in an open state)
allowing blood flow to areas beyond the
coarctation.
Baloon Valvoplasty
Surgery for Coarctation of Aorta
1. Resect
narrow
area
2. Anastomosis
Ask Yourself ?

Laboratory analysis on a child with Tetralogy
of Fallot indicates a high RBC count. The
polycythemia is a compensatory mechanism
for:
a. Tissue oxygen need
b. Low iron level
C. Low blood pressure
d. Cardiomegaly
Acquired Cardiac Diseases
RHEUMATIC FEVER
A systemic inflammatory (collagen) disease of
connective tissue that usually follows a group A
beta-hemolytic streptococcus infection.
This disorder causes changes in the entire heart
(especially the valves), joints, brain, and skin
tissues.
Rheumatic Fever
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Assessment
 Jones Criteria
 Major
 Minor
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Treatment
 Antibiotic Therapy
 Aspirin
Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis /
Ineffective Endocarditis:
Microorganisms grow on the
endocardium, forming vegetations,
deposits of fibrin, and platelet thrombi.
The lesion may invade adjacent tissues
such as aortic and mitral valves.
Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis /
Ineffective Endocarditis:
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Assessment
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Diagnosis – blood cultures
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Treatment
 Antibiotics
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Patient teaching – take antibiotics prior to
surgery, dental work, etc.
Kawasaki Disease
Multisystem vasculitis – inflammation of
blood vessels in the body especially the
coronary arteries with antigen-antibody
complexes.
Kawasaki Disease
Signs and Symptoms / Treatment

Three Phases of clinical manifestations:
 Acute
 Subacute
 Convalesant
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Treatment
 Aspirin
 Gamma Globulin
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Nursing Care
Kawasaki Disease

Which phase of Kawasaki is this child
exhibiting?
Inflamed, Cracked,
Peeling Lips
Strawberry tongue