Heart Murmur Essay

They may start with a physical exam and listening to the patient’s heart. If an abnormal heartbeat is heard the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram. This procedure monitors the electrical impulses of the heart to detect irregular heart beat. Chest X-rays may also be used to better evaluate the heart and lungs. There are also many other ways to detect defects such as an echocardiogram, exercise stress test, cardiac catheterization, CT scan, or MRI. Congenital heart disease can be minor or severe, so depending on the case there are many different treatment options. For minor cases medications and regular exams will do. For severe cases, implantable heart devices, catheter procedures, and even open-heart surgery may be needed. In rare cases a heart transplant may be required. Congenital heart disease can affect both children and

4. left ventricle 5. superior vena cava 6. inferior vena cava 7. ascending aorta 8. aortic arch 9. brachiocephalic artery 10. left common carotid artery 11. left subclavian artery 12. pulmonary trunk 13. right pulmonary artery 14. left pulmonary artery 15. ligamentum arteriosum 16. right pulmonary veins 17. left pulmonary veins 18. right coronary artery 19. anterior cardiac vein t s w x v 20. left coronary artery 21. circumflex artery 22. anterior

Premature birth has been linked to a vast array of lungs problems, the earlier the birth the greater risk of health complications(Davis R and Mychaliska G, 2013). A majority of the health problems will affect the infant for the rest of their life (Davis R and Mychaliska G, 2013). Infants born between the canalicular and the saccular period (week 25) have lung development that is unsuitable for gas exchange (Davis R and Mychaliska G, 2013). Two major complications that arise with undeveloped lungs is bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and pulmonary arterial hypertension (Mahgoub L. et al. 2017).

The blood that does not cross the foramen ovale into the left atrium is emptied into the right ventricle which is then pumped into the pulmonary artery to be carried to the lungs. The third fetal shunt is encountered; the ductus arteriosus allows blood to be shunted from the pulmonary artery to the aorta and systemic arteries following. Blood that does go to the lungs are returned by the pulmonary veins to the left atrium and emptied into the left ventricle. (Perinatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care, Ch2 p 17-18) Shortly after birth due to changes in vascular resistance blood is redirected to the lungs for oxygenation and these shunts are no longer required leading to their closure within a few days postpartum. In HLHS, because the left heart structures are insufficient to receive and pump adequate amounts of oxygenated blood to supply the tissues the patency of the foramen ovale and the ductus arteriosus are essential to sustaining life. (PubMed – ADAM Medical Encyclopedia, 2013) Medical intervention is needed to maintain the patency of the ductus arteriosus and an atrial septal defect is created in place of the foramen ovale.

Critical Congenital Heart Defect (CCHD) is a subgroup of congenital heart defects that normally necessitates surgical intervention or catheterization procedure during the neonatal period (Good, Canale, Goodman, & Yeager, 2015). According to Mahle et al. (2009), although there are measures taken to detect CCHD like prenatal ultrasound and comprehensive newborn physical examination during newborn’s birth hospitalization, there is still a significant percentage of newborns with CCHD that is left undetected and discharged home without being diagnosed. Delay in diagnosis of CCHD increases morbidity and mortality (Mahle et al., 2009). In response to this, Riede et al. (2010) mentioned that the diagnostic gap in CCHD could be bridged by screening newborns using pulse oximetry

Heredity plays a role in atrial septal defect because of gene abnormalities and environmental exposure that heighten the chance of a child inheriting it. Although most ASD occur by chance with no clear cause, scientists are still searching for a reason to why it occurs. Some symptoms of atrial septal defect after birth include recurrent respiratory or lung infections, trouble in breathing, feeling drained when feeding (infants), being out of breath when doing physically intensive activities, missed heartbeats, heart murmurs, swelling of limbs such as feet, legs, or stomach areas, or getting a stroke. Detection can be done during of after the baby is born. During pregnancy, it may be seen during an ultrasound but it usually depends on the size of the hole and its location. In many cases, ASD is not detected until adulthood, in which detection can be done through x-rays or physical examination which is done with a stethoscope to check for heart murmurs. Treatment may not be necessary in most cases of ASD as the hole in the septum closes during childhood but more severe cases will require treatment. Medications can be used to reduce the signs of symptoms and infections as well as aiding the heart to

Additionally, using a stethoscope, a doctor will often hear a heart murmur caused by the blood blowing through the atrial septal defect. It is not uncommon for a murmur to not be detected right at birth. PAPVR isn 't hereditary but is a result of when the veins don 't come together and grow properly

I was born in 1998 with Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA). The ductus arteriosus is only open when a child is in the womb and should close after birth to prevent the oxygenated blood from mixing with the deoxygenated blood in the heart. PDA put a tremendous strain on my heart and lungs and not too long after birth; the doctors put me on a ventilator. A surgery was suggested, called PDA ligation, which involved closing the PDA with a small clip. The doctors had explained to my parents that the surgery may not be successful and if it was, there could be certain lasting effects such as being blind, deaf or mental retardation.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is one of the common congenital left to right cardiac defects seen in children. The ductus arteriosus is a large communication pathway that is naturally patent in the fetus, connecting the trunk of the major pulmonary artery to the descending aorta (Shinde, Basantwani, & Tendolkar, 2016). During the fetal life, ductus arteriosus is a normal structure that allows the blood to pass from the right ventricle to the descending aorta by bypassing the pulmonary circulation. The ductus arteriosus is an important structure in the fetal development as it allow the blood flow to the rest of the fetal organ and structure. In fetus pulmonary

It is considered to account for the most deaths during the first week of an infant’s life who suffers from a congenital heart defect (Texas Heart Institute, 2014). In a healthy heart, oxygen-poor blood returns to the heart from the body. The heart receives the blood through the veins and enters the right atrium where it then pushes the blood through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. From here, the blood moves through the pulmonary valve out of the heart via the pulmonary artery and into the lungs where it receives oxygen to be transported. The blood returns to the heart by the pulmonary veins into the left atrium where it is then passed through the mitral valve into the left ventricle. Oxygen-rich blood is pumped from the left ventricle into the aorta through the aorta valve where it is then sent throughout the body, returning to the right atrium to continue the cycle (American Heart Association,

Patent Ductus Arteriosus is a common condition seen in preterm infants. PDA may cause congestive heart failure, respiratory distress, necrotizing enterocolitis, and renal impairment. Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors and surgical interventions for ligation of PDA are widely used in management of this condition. In small infants, surgical closure can be difficult, therefore medical closure offers a great advantage.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has suggested oxygen saturation levels that include maintaining the infants PaO2 of 45 – 80 mmHg with an oxygen saturation level of 85 – 95% for preterm infants of greater than 32 weeks gestation; and even lower saturations of 85 – 93% for infants less than 32 weeks. The previously mentioned guidelines are important for nursing staff to be aware of because they are the population providing bedside care, including monitoring oxygen use and oxygen saturation levels. Providers do not want the infant’s oxygen levels to be higher than these suggested guidelines because it can lead to oxygen toxicity in the preterm infant. In intrauterine life the oxygen saturation is around 50 or 60% and the oxygen tension during that time is around 22 – 24 mmHg (Filho, J. et al 2011). When the infants’ oxygen saturations are higher, the rate of vascularization of the retina is increased and thus is a contributing factor to

Echocardiography is the initial diagnostic modality for a patient with suspected congenital heart disease. In some patients, however, use of this modality is encumbered by its limited ability to delineate great arteries and intra cardiac anomalies, pulmonary veins, and coronary arteries. (7)

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), one of the more common cardiac defects at birth, is the persistence of an opening between the pulmonary artery and the descending thoracic aorta. This opening is as a result of failure of the physiological fetus ductus arteriosus to close, which normally occurs soon after birth. This hole allows for oxygenated blood from the aorta to mix with oxygen-depleted blood from the pulmonary artery. As a consequence, significant strain is placed on the heart and pressure within the lungs’ arteries is dramatically increased.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is a common lung disorder that mostly affects preterm infants. RDS is caused by insufficient surfactant production and structural immaturity of the lungs leading to alveolar collapse. Clinically, RDS presents soon after birth with tachypnea, nasal flaring, grunting, retractions, hypercapnia, and/or an oxygen need. The usual course is clinical worsening followed by recovery in 3 to 5 days as adequate surfactant production occurs. Research in the prevention and treatment of this disease has led to major improvements in the care of preterm infants with RDS and increased survival. However, RDS remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality especially in the most preterm infants. This chapter reviews the most current evidence-based management of RDS, including prevention, delivery room stabilization, respiratory management, and supportive care.