Cardio-Everything else Flashcards
Why would a left to right shunt occur at the age of 6-8 weeks?
At the is age there is decreased pressure in the pulmonary artery and SVR
This leads to a louder left to right shunt like a VSD
What do Inotropes do?
They help with myocardial contractility
What does heart failure typically present like in children?
- Tachypneao
- Tachycardiac
- Poor feeding
- Cyanosis
- Hepatomegaly
- Peri-orbital oedema
- sweating
- Palpable spleen
- Gallop rhythm and S3
What are the causes of heart failure?
- Cyanotic congenital heart failure with increased pulmonary blood flow
- Acyanotic congenital heart failure with increased pulmonary blood flow OR severe obstruction to ventricular outflow
- Myocarditis
- Cardiomyopathy
- Tachyarrythmia
- Bradyarrythmia
What is the management of infants with heart failure?
- Monitor their temperature
- Prop the child at 60 degrees
- Give oxygen via nasal prongs
- Start medication
What medication would you give?
- Intotropes
- digoxin (5-10mcg/kg/day) orally or IM injection but oral works better in children with no vomiting - IV infusion of donut amine or dopamine if severe cardiac failure
- Diuretics
- furosemide (1-6mg/kg/day in 2 to 4 divided doses) give IV first and the maintenance orally
- spironolactone which is also a diuretic (potassium sparing) - Vasodilator
- ACE-I like captopril (0,5-6 mg/kg/day)
What do ACE-inhibitors do?
They reduce the left ventricular after load and used specifically in dilated cardiomyopathy
What is cyanosis?
It is defined as blue or purple discoloration that occurs in the skin and mucous membranes when deoxyhaemoglobin is >5g/dl in the baby’s blood
How do we classify cyanosis?
- Peripheral-caused by some obstruction or inadequate circulation
- Central-caused by respiratory, CNS or cardiac problems causing decreased oxygenated blood
What are the causes of central cyanosis?
- Neuro:
- intracranial haemorrhage
- drug overdose eg heroin - Resp
- pneumonia
- asthma
- bronchiolitis
- COPD
- pulmonary hypertension
What are the causes of peripheral cyanosis?
- all the causes from central
- venous obstruction
- arterial obstruction
- cold exposure
- reduced cardiac pressure
What are the signs of peripheral cyanosis?
- The tip of the nose
- The earlobes
- The outer linings of the lips, chin and cheek
- The fingertips and toes
- Palms and soles fo feet
What are the signs of central cyanosis?
- Blue tongue
- Blue inner lining of the mouth, check and soft palate
- Mucous membrane of the gum
What is cardiomyoapthy?
Non-inflammatory conditions causing myocardial dysfunction leading to cardiac failure There’s 3 main types: 1. Dilated cardiomyopathy 2. Restrictive cardiomyopathy 3. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
What are the signs of right heart failure?
- Oedema(usually in the legs)
- Increase in respiratory rate because no blood flow to lungs
- Shortness of breath