Module 8 Unit B

Question 1

What is an atrial septal defect?

Answer 1

birth defect of the heart in which there is a hole in the wall (septum) that divides the upper chambers (atria) of the heart. A hole can vary in size and may close on its own or may require surgery.

Question 2

What is a ventricular septal defect?

Answer 2

a birth defect of the heart in which there is a hole in the wall (septum) that separates the two lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart. This wall also is called the ventricular septum.

Can have one or more holes in different places of the septum.

Question 3

What is patent ductus arteriosis?

Answer 3

persistent communication between the descending thoracic aorta and the pulmonary artery that results from failure of normal physiologic closure of the fetal ductus, one of the more common congenital heart defects.

Normal functional closure 24-48 hrs

Anatomic 2-3wks

Patency abnormal at 2-3 months

Rarely close spontaneously >5 months

Question 4

What causes congenital heart defects in newborns?

Answer 4

Multifactorial including genetic as well as environmental factors.

Question 5

What level of interprofessional communication is warranted when the nurse midwife detects a neonatal contental murmur?

Answer 5

Cardiology consult

Question 6

What is acrocyanosis?

Answer 6

(Acrocyanosis) which is blue color in the hands and feet. Normal in newborns until about 2 days of age is caused by vasomotor instability- no treatment needed

May persist up to 48 hrs and is exacerbated by low environmental temps.

Question 7

What are the signs and symptoms of acrocyanosis?

Answer 7

blue color in the hands and feet.

Question 8

Is acrocyanosis a normal or abnormal finding?

Answer 8

Normal in newborns until about 2 days of age is caused by vasomotor instability- no treatment needed

May persist up to 48 hrs and is exacerbated by low environmental temps.

Question 9

What is central cyanosis?

Answer 9

Central - visible when there are at least 5 g of hemoglobin not bound to oxygen/100 ml of blood

Question 10

What are the signs and symptoms of central cyanosis?

Answer 10

Signs- a bluish color of the skin, lips, tongue, earlobes, scrotum and nail beds seen in the neonate - mucous membranes and tongue most distinctive of this type

Question 11

Is central cyanosis a normal or abnormal finding?

Answer 11

Abnormal

Can be d/t lung disease, sepsis, persistent pulmonary hypertension or neurologic disease.

Question 12

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Answer 12

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Question 13

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Answer 13

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Question 14

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Answer 14

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Question 15

What is circumoral cyanosis?

Answer 15

Circumoral - blue color around the mouth

Question 16

What are the signs and symptoms of circumoral cyanosis?

Answer 16

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Question 17

Is circumoral cyanosis a normal or abnormal finding?

Answer 17

Is normal 12-24 hrs post delivery up to 2 days