The physician suggests that surgery be performed for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) to prevent which complication?
- A. Hypoxemia
- B. Right-to-left shunt of blood
- C. Decreased workload on the left side of the heart
- D. Pulmonary vascular congestion
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: PDA causes left-to-right shunting from the aorta to the pulmonary artery, leading to pulmonary vascular congestion. Surgery prevents this complication. Hypoxemia is linked to mixed flow defects, the shunt is left-to-right, and PDA increases left heart workload.
You may also like to solve these questions
The nurse is caring for a child with persistent hypoxia secondary to a cardiac defect. The nurse recognizes the risk of cerebrovascular accidents (strokes) occurring. What strategy is an important objective to decrease this risk?
- A. Minimize seizures.
- B. Prevent dehydration.
- C. Promote cardiac output.
- D. Reduce energy expenditure.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Preventing dehydration reduces stroke risk in hypoxic children with polycythemia, as dehydration increases blood viscosity. Seizure control, cardiac output, and energy expenditure are important but don?t directly address stroke risk.
What statement best identifies the cause of heart failure (HF)?
- A. Disease related to cardiac defects
- B. Consequence of an underlying cardiac defect
- C. Inherited disorder associated with a variety of defects
- D. Result of diminished workload imposed on an abnormal myocardium
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Heart failure results from the heart?s inability to pump sufficient blood, often due to congenital defects causing increased volume or pressure. It?s not a primary disease, not typically inherited, and involves increased, not diminished, myocardial workload.
What nutritional component should be altered in the infant with heart failure (HF)?
- A. Decrease in fats
- B. Increase in fluids
- C. Decrease in protein
- D. Increase in calories
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Infants with heart failure need increased calories due to elevated metabolic rates from poor cardiac function. Fats and protein should be increased to meet caloric needs, and fluids are carefully monitored to avoid overload.
After returning from cardiac catheterization, the nurse determines that the pulse distal to the catheter insertion site is weaker. How should the nurse respond?
- A. Elevate the affected extremity.
- B. Notify the practitioner of the observation.
- C. Record data on the assessment flow record.
- D. Apply warm compresses to the insertion site.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A weaker pulse post-catheterization is expected initially and should be documented as a baseline for monitoring. The pulse should strengthen over hours. Elevation, warm compresses, or immediate notification are unnecessary unless neurovascular changes occur.
A cardiac defect that allows blood to shunt from the (high pressure) left side of the heart to the (lower pressure) right side can result in which condition?
- A. Cyanosis
- B. Heart failure
- C. Decreased pulmonary blood flow
- D. Bounding pulses in upper extremities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Left-to-right shunting increases pulmonary blood flow, overloading the right heart and leading to heart failure. Cyanosis and decreased pulmonary flow occur with right-to-left shunts, and bounding pulses are specific to coarctation of the aorta.
Nokea