What nursing action is appropriate to take when an infant with a ...

[natalie2426]

What nursing action is appropriate to take when an infant with a congenital heart defect has an increased respiratory rate and sweating and is not feeding well?
 
  a. Check the infant's temperature.
  b. Alert the physician.
  c. Withhold oral feeding.
  d. Increase the oxygen rate.

Question 2

Which congenital heart defect results in increased pulmonary blood flow?
 
  a. Ventricular septal defect
  b. Coarctation of the aorta
  c. Tetralogy of Fallot
  d. Pulmonary stenosis

[Tonny]

Answer to Question 1

B
An increased respiratory rate, sweating, and not feeling well are signs of early congestive heart failure and the physician should be notified; they do not suggest a febrile process. Withholding the infant's feeding is an incomplete response to the problem. Increasing oxygen may alleviate symptoms, but medications such as digoxin and furosemide are necessary to improve heart function and fluid retention.

Answer to Question 2

A
Ventricular septal defect causes a left-to-right shunting of blood, thus increasing pulmonary blood flow. Coarctation of the aorta is a stenotic lesion that causes increased resistance to blood flow from the proximal to distal aorta. The defects associated with tetralogy of Fallot result in a right-to-left shunting of blood, thus decreasing pulmonary blood flow. Pulmonary stenosis causes obstruction of blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery. Pulmonary blood flow is decreased.