Cardiovascular Dysfunction Flashcards
Hypotension for neonate
Systolic BP : < 60mmHg
Hypotension for infants ( 1 -12 months )
Systolic BP : < 70mmHg
Hypotension for children 1 - 10 years
Systolic BP : < 70mmHg + ( 2x ( age in years )
Hypotension for children older than 10 years
Systolic BP : < 90mmHg
So what do we look out for in circulation?
heart rate, pulse quality, capillary refill time and blood pressure
What does tachycardia mean?
Tachycardia can be early sign of hypoxia, low perfusion, and can reflect fever, anxiety, pain or excitement
What does brachycardia in children <60bpm and neonates < 100bpm mean?
It indicates critical hypoxia and ischaemia
What are the early signs?
- Tachycardia
- Altered perfusion
skin : prolonged capillary refill
brain : altered level of consciousness
kidneys : decreased urine output
pulse : weak or thread
What are the late signs?
- Cold & clammy
- Poor capillary refill
- Hypotension
- Bradypnea
- Acidosis
- Flaccid tone
- Decreased response to pain
What is the physical examination for circulation?
- Compensatory phase
Vital signs are within the normal range for
the patient’s age. If incongruent with the
child’s clinical need, considered to be in
some form impending respiratory or
circulatory distress
- Skin perfusion
- Temperature
- Colour : pale, cyanosis - Peripheral pulses
- Heart rate - quality e.g. weak or strong
- Site
Infant/ young children : brachial, femoral
Older children : Carotid - Capillary refill
- Check : kneecap, foot, toes, hands or forearm ( ensure child is not cold from exposure ) - Level of consciousness
- Alertness
- Responsiveness - Urine output
- Renal perfusion
- Normal 1-2ml/kg/hr
Fetal and postnatal circulation
- fetal heart begin at 1st month of gestation
- Heart rate and blood begins circulation at 21 days of gestation
- Lungs : non-functional
- Fetal oxygenation occurs via placenta
What are the circulatory changes occur during transition to extra uterine life?
- Inspirated oxygen dilated pulmonary vessels, decrease vascular resistance and increasing pulmonary blood flow which facilitates lung expansion
- Foramen ovale ductus venosus and ductus arteriosus close functionally soon after birth
Diagnosis of congenital heart disease
- Antenatal check-up
- After birth : heart murmurs
- Electrocardiogram ( ECG )
- 2D echocardiogram
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
What are the known risk factors of congenital heart disease?
- Environmental exposures
- Drug exposures
- Maternal diabetes
- Maternal reproductive history
- Family history - 15% parents have congenital heart disease
What are the types of congenital heart disease?
- Obstruction to blood flow
- Non-cyanotic heart ( left -> right shunt )
- cyanotic ( right -> left shunt )