Caring for patients with lesions increasing pulmonary blood flow

The most common congenital cardiac defect is VSD. This malady accounts for 20 to 30 per cent of all congenital cardiac defects and is representative of a cardiac lesion that increases pulmonary blood flow. Although lesions, which increase pulmonary blood flow, may vary in incidence, they frequently have common symptomatology. Over time, congestive heart failure becomes a problem. Poor respiratory status leads to weight loss, poor feeding, and failure to thrive. If unrepaired, the child often presents with cyanosis and tachypnea. The history may include frequent respiratory infections, exercise intolerance, generalized malaise, or fatigue. In spite of poor weight gain, the child may be edematous and have a large liver. Definitive diagnosis of each lesion may be made by echocardiogram, cardiac catheterization, or both. With these data and a detailed history, treatment and management decisions are determined. In most cases, as the child gets older, symptoms become more evident. This is the result of high pulmonary pressure. High pressure over time causes a thickening of the alveolar tissue, which decreases the permeability of the alveolar membranes for gas exchange. Lung changes can become irreversible, but it is unusual for irreversible changes to occur before 1 year of age. All the lesions described in this article are amendable to primary repair before 1 year of age, affording the best functional results. Postoperative nursing care includes management of persisting CHF and PVR while maintaining adequate cardiac output. Many factors, including electrolyte balance, nutritional status, conduction disturbances, stress, and parental anxiety, influence the management of these infants. The outcome depends greatly on the assessment skill of a highly competent cardiac intensive care nurse and an environment conducive to collaborative practice.