VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT
QUESTIONEER AND CORRECT ANSWERS.
A mother of an infant born with a small VSD is asking the nurse what will
need to be done regarding treating her infant. The nurse's would base their
response based on which of the following rationales:
a. This child will likely require surgery to correct this defect
b. This child will require medicines to correct this defect
c. Since the defect is small, it will likely close on its own and will not require
treatment. - CorreCt Answers -c. Since the defect is small, it will likely close
on its own and will not require treatment.
A two-month-old is showing signs and symptoms of heart failure. An
echocardiogram is ordered. The test shows the infant has a ventricular
septal defect (VSD). Which statement below best describes the blood flow
in the heart due to this congenital heart defect?
A. "The blood in the heart is shunting from the right ventricle to the left
ventricle, which is increasing pulmonary blood flow."
B. "The blood in the heart is shunting from the left ventricle to the right
ventricle, which is decreasing pulmonary blood flow."
C. "The blood in the heart is shunting from the left ventricle to the right
ventricle, which is increasing pulmonary blood flow."
D. "The blood in the heart is bypassing the left ventricle and is being
shunted to the right ventricle, which is decreasing lung blood flow." -
CorreCt Answers -C. "The blood in the heart is shunting from the left
ventricle to the right ventricle, which is increasing pulmonary blood flow."
, TRUE or FALSE: A small muscular ventricular septal defect has a high
probability of self-closure, and these types of VSDs are found in the lower
portion of the ventricular septum. - CorreCt Answers -True
TRUE or FALSE: The signs and symptoms of a ventricular septal defect are
most commonly detected in a baby following birth. - CorreCt Answers -
False
The answer is FALSE. Signs and symptoms of a ventricular septal defect are
NOT commonly found in a baby after birth, but rather a little later on. VSD
signs and symptoms most likely start to present around 1-3 months after
birth. WHY? In utero, the baby has the same pressure on the right and left
side of the heart. However, after birth the lungs start to work and this
pressure changes gradually over the next 2-3 weeks. The pressure in the
right side will decrease compared to the left side. Therefore, when a large
VSD is present the pressure changes will cause blood to begin shunting
from the LEFT ventricle to the RIGHT ventricle (hence increasing lung
blood flow which leads to pulmonary hypertension and eventually heart
failure). Therefore, at about 1-3 months of life the infant will be presenting
with heart failure, growth problems, and respiratory issues.
A concerned mother brings her 3-month-old to the clinic. The mother
states the infant seems to be small for its age. In addition, she states the
infant fatigues very easily while feeding and rarely finishes a feeding. While
collecting a thorough health history, what other signs and symptoms
described by the mother may indicate the child has a congenital heart
defect, such as a ventricular septal defect? Select all that apply:
A. Diarrhea
QUESTIONEER AND CORRECT ANSWERS.
A mother of an infant born with a small VSD is asking the nurse what will
need to be done regarding treating her infant. The nurse's would base their
response based on which of the following rationales:
a. This child will likely require surgery to correct this defect
b. This child will require medicines to correct this defect
c. Since the defect is small, it will likely close on its own and will not require
treatment. - CorreCt Answers -c. Since the defect is small, it will likely close
on its own and will not require treatment.
A two-month-old is showing signs and symptoms of heart failure. An
echocardiogram is ordered. The test shows the infant has a ventricular
septal defect (VSD). Which statement below best describes the blood flow
in the heart due to this congenital heart defect?
A. "The blood in the heart is shunting from the right ventricle to the left
ventricle, which is increasing pulmonary blood flow."
B. "The blood in the heart is shunting from the left ventricle to the right
ventricle, which is decreasing pulmonary blood flow."
C. "The blood in the heart is shunting from the left ventricle to the right
ventricle, which is increasing pulmonary blood flow."
D. "The blood in the heart is bypassing the left ventricle and is being
shunted to the right ventricle, which is decreasing lung blood flow." -
CorreCt Answers -C. "The blood in the heart is shunting from the left
ventricle to the right ventricle, which is increasing pulmonary blood flow."
, TRUE or FALSE: A small muscular ventricular septal defect has a high
probability of self-closure, and these types of VSDs are found in the lower
portion of the ventricular septum. - CorreCt Answers -True
TRUE or FALSE: The signs and symptoms of a ventricular septal defect are
most commonly detected in a baby following birth. - CorreCt Answers -
False
The answer is FALSE. Signs and symptoms of a ventricular septal defect are
NOT commonly found in a baby after birth, but rather a little later on. VSD
signs and symptoms most likely start to present around 1-3 months after
birth. WHY? In utero, the baby has the same pressure on the right and left
side of the heart. However, after birth the lungs start to work and this
pressure changes gradually over the next 2-3 weeks. The pressure in the
right side will decrease compared to the left side. Therefore, when a large
VSD is present the pressure changes will cause blood to begin shunting
from the LEFT ventricle to the RIGHT ventricle (hence increasing lung
blood flow which leads to pulmonary hypertension and eventually heart
failure). Therefore, at about 1-3 months of life the infant will be presenting
with heart failure, growth problems, and respiratory issues.
A concerned mother brings her 3-month-old to the clinic. The mother
states the infant seems to be small for its age. In addition, she states the
infant fatigues very easily while feeding and rarely finishes a feeding. While
collecting a thorough health history, what other signs and symptoms
described by the mother may indicate the child has a congenital heart
defect, such as a ventricular septal defect? Select all that apply:
A. Diarrhea
