Examination of the newborn child

Question 1

What should be the first thing you do during an examination of newborn child?

Answer 1

Start with a general observation of the baby.Looking at: Posture + movements. Breathing. Irritability. Skin.

Question 2

What are the three fetal shunts and where are they?

Answer 2

Ductus arteriosus: From the trunk of the pulmonary artery and to the proximal part of descending aorta.
Ductus venosus: From umbilical vein to inferior vena cava.
Foramen ovale: From the right to the left atrium.

Question 3

After making a general observation, what should be the next step in the examination of a newborn?

Answer 3

The examination that that require the child to be quiet. Auscultation of heart and lungs.

Question 4

What are weak femoral pulses in the newborn a possible sign of?

Answer 4

Aorta coarctation. (Also called aortic narrowing, is a congenital condition whereby the aorta is narrow.)

Question 5

What is talipes equinovarus?

Answer 5

Also called club foot. It is a common foot abnormality, in which the foot points downward and inward.

Question 6

What is the difference between myelomeningocele and spina bifida?

Answer 6

Spina bifida refers to any birth defect in which the neural tube in the area of the spine fails to close completely. Myelomeningocele is a neural tube defect in which the bones of the spine do not completely form.

Question 7

What is Guthrie test?

Answer 7

Guthrie test: A simple screening blood test for phenylketonuria (PKU).