Author Question: When a newborn has a transposition of the great arteries (TGA), the only chance for survival is: ... (Read 77 times)

SAVANNAHHOOPER23 · **on:** Jun 27, 2018

When a newborn has a transposition of the great arteries (TGA), the only chance for survival is:

a. administration of continuous oxygen
b. serial blood transfusions to exchange the blood and increase the amount of oxygen in the newborn's blood
c. administration of sufficient potassium
d. an intra-atrial connection such as a patent ductus arteriosus that allows mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood

Question 2

An infant with tetralogy of Fallot who has multiple hypercyanotic spells will likely have a procedure to ensure pulmonary blood flow until surgical repair is performed. Which of the following is this procedure?

a. coil
b. Fontan procedure
c. Blalock-Taussig (BT) shunt or modified BT shunt
d. Jones procedure

AngeliqueG · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 27, 2018

Answer to Question 1

D

Feedback
A Incorrect. In TGA, unoxygenated blood enters the right atrium to the right ventricle, then flows out the aorta into the body. Oxygenated blood from the lungs enters the left atrium to the left ventricle and then flows out the pulmonary artery back to the lungs. Thus, there is parallel circulation with no oxygenated blood getting to the systemic circulation. Administration of continuous oxygen will not benefit the newborn.
B Incorrect. Serial blood transfusions to exchange the blood and increase the amount of oxygen in the newborn's blood will not help because the mixing of oxygenated and unoxygenated blood needs to occur via an intra-atrial connection.
C Incorrect. Administration of sufficient potassium will have no impact on the newborn's chance of survival.
D Correct. When a newborn has a transposition of the great arteries (TGA), the only chance for survival is an intra-atrial connection such as a patent ductus arteriosus that allows mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.

Answer to Question 2

C

Feedback
A Incorrect. An infant with tetralogy of Fallot who has multiple hypercyanotic spells will not have a coil procedure to ensure pulmonary blood flow until surgical repair is performed.
B Incorrect. The Fontan procedure is the final palliative procedure for children with tricuspid atresia.
C Correct. A Blalock-Taussig (BT) shunt or modified BT shunt is a palliative procedure to increase pulmonary blood flow and increase oxygen saturation. This procedure provides blood flow to the pulmonary arteries from the left or right subclavian artery.
D Incorrect. An infant with tetralogy of Fallot who has multiple hypercyanotic spells will not have a Jones procedure to ensure pulmonary blood flow until surgical repair is performed.