PEDS CARDIO REVIEW
59. A heart transplant may be indicated for a child with severe heart failure and: 1. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). 2. Ventricular septal defect (VSD). 3. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome. 4. Pulmonic stenosis (PS).
ANS 3. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is treated by the Norwood procedure, or heart transplant.
51. Which medication should the nurse give to a child diagnosed with transposition of the great vessels? 1. Ibuprofen. 2. Betamethasone. 3. Prostaglandin E. 4. Indocin.
ANS 3. Prostaglandin E inhibits closing of the PDA, which connects the aorta and pulmonary artery.
41. The most common cardiac dysrhythmia in pediatrics is: 1. Ventricular tachycardia. 2. Sinus bradycardia. 3. Supraventricular tachycardia. 4. First-degree heart block.
ANS 3. Supraventricular tachycardia is most common in children.
5. What should the nurse assess prior to administering digoxin? Select all that apply. 1. Sclera. 2. Apical pulse rate. 3. Cough. 4. Liver function test.
ANS 2 The apical pulse rate is assessed because digoxin decreases the HR, and if the HR is <60, Digoxin should not be administered
6. Which statement by a parent of an infant with congestive heart failure (CHF) who is being sent home on digoxin indicates the need for further education? 1. "I will give the medication at regular 12-hour intervals." 2. "If he vomits, I will not give a make-up dose." 3. "If I miss a dose, I will not give an extra dose" 4. "I will mix the digoxin in some formula to make it taste better."
ANS 4 If the medication is mixed in his formula, and he refuses to drink the entire amount, the digoxin dose will be inadequate
2. A newborn is diagnosed with a congenital heart defect (CHD). The test results reveal that the lumen of the duct between the aorta and pulmonary artery remains open. This defect is known as _____________________.
ANS Patent ductus arteriosus or PDA. This is a defect with increased pulmonary flow. It should close in the first few weeks of life
40. The nurse is caring for an 8-year-old girl whose parents indicate she has developed spastic movements of her extremities and trunk, facial grimace, and speech disturbances. They state it seems worse when she is anxious and does not occur while sleeping. The nurse questions the parents about which recent illness? 1. Kawasaki disease (KD). 2. Strep throat. 3. Malignant hypertension. 4. Atrial fibrillation.
ANS 2. Chorea can be a manifestation of RF, with a higher incidence in females
27. While looking through the chart of an infant with a congenital heart defect (CHD) of decreased pulmonary blood flow, the nurse would expect which laboratory finding? 1. Decreased platelet count. 2. Polycythemia. 3. Decreased ferritin level. 4. Shift to the left.
ANS 2. Polycythemia is the result of the body attempting to increase the oxygen supply in the presence of hypoxia by increasing the total number of red blood cells to carry the oxygen.
37. The Norwood procedure is used to correct: 1. Transposition of the great vessels. 2. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome. 3. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). 4. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).
ANS 2. The Norwood procedure is specific to hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
32. In which congenital heart defect (CHD) would the nurse need to take upper and lower extremity BPs? 1. Transposition of the great vessels. 2. Aortic stenosis (AS). 3. Coarctation of the aorta (COA). 4. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).
ANS 3. With COA there is narrowing of the aorta, which increases pressure proximal to the defect (upper extremities) and decreases pressure distal to the defect (lower extremities). There will be high BP and strong pulses in the upper extremities and lower than-expected BP and weak pulses in the lower extremities.
8. The nurse is caring for a child who has undergone a cardiac catheterization. During recovery, the nurse notices the dressing is saturated with bright red blood. The nurse's first action is to: 1. Call the interventional cardiologist. 2. Notify the cardiac catheterization laboratory that the child will be returning. 3. Apply a bulky pressure dressing over the present dressing. 4. Apply direct pressure 1 inch above the puncture site.
ANS 4. Applying direct pressure 1 inch above the puncture site will localize pressure over the vessel site.
58. During play, a toddler with a history of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) might assume which position? 1. Sitting. 2. Supine. 3. Squatting. 4. Standing.
ANS 3. The toddler will naturally assume this position to decrease preload by occluding venous flow from the lower extremities and increasing afterload. Increasing SVR in this position increases pulmonary blood flow.
54. Which physiological changes occur as a result of hypoxemia in congestive heart failure (CHF)? 1. Polycythemia and clubbing. 2. Anemia and barrel chest. 3. Increased white blood cells and low platelets. 4. Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and peripheral edema.
ANS 1. The hypoxemia stimulates erythropoiesis, which causes polycythemia, in an attempt to increase oxygen by having more red blood cells carry oxygen. Clubbing of the fingers is a result of the polycythemia and hypoxemia.
34. Which statement by the mother of a child with rheumatic fever (RF) shows she has good understanding of the care of her child? 1. "I will apply heat to his swollen joints to promote circulation." 2. "I will have him do gentle stretching exercises to prevent contractures." 3. "I will give him the aspirin that is ordered for pain and inflammation." 4. "I will apply cold packs to his swollen joints to reduce pain."
ANS 3. Aspirin is the drug of choice for treatment of RF.
60. Family discharge teaching has been effective when the parent of a toddler diagnosed with Kawasaki disease (KD) states: 1. "The arthritis in her knees is permanent. She will need knee replacements." 2. "I will give her diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for her peeling palms and soles of her feet." 3. "I know she will be irritable for 2 months after her symptoms started." 4. "I will continue with high doses of Tylenol for her inflammation."
ANS 3. Children can be irritable for 2 months after the symptoms of the disease start.
61. Which assessment indicates that the parent of a 7-year-old is following the prescribed treatment for congestive heart failure (CHF)? 1. HR of 56 beats per minute. 2. Elevated red blood cell count. 3. 50th percentile height and weight for age. 4. Urine output of 0.5 cc/kg/hr
ANS 3. The 50th percentile height and weight for age shows good growth and development, indicating good nutrition and perfusion.
12. On examination, a nurse hears a murmur at the left sternal border (LSB) in a child with diarrhea and fever. The parent asks why the pediatrician never said anything about the murmur. The nurse explains: 1. "The pediatrician is not a cardiologist." 2. "Murmurs are difficult to detect, especially in children." 3. "The fever increased the intensity of the murmur." 4. "We need to refer the child to an interventional cardiologist."
ANS 3. The increased CO of the fever increases the intensity of the murmur, making it easier to hear.
24. Which drug should not be used to control secondary hypertension in a sexually active adolescent female who uses intermittent birth control? 1. Beta blockers. 2. Calcium channel blockers. 3. ACE inhibitors. 4. Diuretics.
ANS 3. ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers can cause birth defects. The others are not teratogenic
35. A child has been diagnosed with valvular disease following rheumatic fever (RF). During patient teaching, the nurse discusses the child's long-term prophylactic therapy with antibiotics for dental procedures, surgery, and childbirth. The parents indicate they understand when they say: 1. "She will need to take the antibiotics until she is 18 years old." 2. "She will need to take the antibiotics for 5 years after the last attack." 3. "She will need to take the antibiotics for 10 years after the last attack." 4. "She will need to take the antibiotics for the rest of her life."
ANS 4. Valvular involvement indicates significant damage, so antibiotics would be taken for the rest of her life.
47. The flow of blood through the heart with an atrial septal defect (ASD) is _____________________.
ANS 47. Left to right. The pressures in the left side of the heart are greater, causing the flow of blood to be from an area of higher pressure to lower pressure, or left to right, increasing the pulmonary blood flow with the extra blood
28. The nurse is caring for a 9-month-old who was born with a congenital heart defect (CHD). Assessment reveals a HR of 160, capillary refill of 4 seconds, bilateral crackles, and sweat on the scalp. These are signs of _____________________.
ANS Congestive heart failure or CHF.
48. Patent ductus arteriosus causes what type of shunt? _____________________
ANS Left to right. Blood flows from the higher pressure aorta to the lower pressure pulmonary artery, resulting in a left to right shunt.
14. Which are the most serious complications for a child with Kawasaki disease (KD)? Select all that apply. 1. Coronary thrombosis. 2. Coronary stenosis. 3. Coronary artery aneurysm. 4. Hypocoagulability. 5. Decreased sedimentation rate. 6. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
ANS 1, 2, 3. 1. Thrombosis, stenosis, and aneurysm affect blood vessels. The child with KD has hypercoagulability and an increased sedimentation rate due to inflammation. 2. Thrombosis, stenosis, and aneurysm affect blood vessels. The child with KD has hypercoagulability and an increased sedimentation rate due to inflammation. 3. Thrombosis, stenosis, and aneurysm affect blood vessels. The child with KD has hypercoagulability and an increased sedimentation rate due to inflammation. 4. The child with KD has hypercoagulability and an increased sedimentation rate due to inflammation. 5. The child with KD has hypercoagulability and an increased sedimentation rate due to inflammation. 6. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a CHD and has no relation to KD.
3. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) involves which defects? Select all that apply. 1. Ventricular septal defect (VSD). 2. Right ventricular hypertrophy. 3. Left ventricular hypertrophy. 4. Pulmonic stenosis (PS). 5. Pulmonic atresia. 6. Overriding aorta. 7. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).
ANS 1, 2, 4, 6. TOF is a congenital defect with a ventricular septal defect, right ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary valve stenosis, and overriding aorta.
1. What can an electrocardiogram (ECG) detect? Select all that apply. 1. Ischemia. 2. Injury. 3. Cardiac output (CO). 4. Dysrhythmias. 5. Systemic vascular resistance (SVR). 6. Occlusion pressure. 7. Conduction delay.
ANS 1, 2, 4, 7. 1. An electrocardiogram can indicate ischemia of the heart muscle. 2. An electrocardiogram can indicate injury to the heart muscle. 3. An electrocardiogram does not indicate CO. 4. An electrocardiogram can show dysrhythmias. 5. An electrocardiogram does not show SVR. 6. An electrocardiogram does not show occlusion pressures. 7. An electrocardiogram does show conduction delays.
29. The following are examples of acquired heart disease. Select all that apply. 1. Infective endocarditis. 2. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome. 3. Rheumatic fever (RF). 4. Cardiomyopathy. 5. Kawasaki disease (KD). 6. Transposition of the great vessels.
ANS 1, 3, 4, 5. 1. Infective endocarditis is an example of an acquired heart problem. 2. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a CHD. 3. RF is an acquired heart problem. 4. Cardiomyopathy is an acquired heart problem. 5. KD is an acquired heart problem. 6. Transposition of the great vessels is a CHD.
52. Which statement by the mother of a child with rheumatic fever (RF) shows she has an understanding of prevention for her other children? 1. "Whenever one of them gets a sore throat, I will give that child an antibiotic." 2. "There is no treatment. It must run its course." 3. "If their culture is positive for group A streptococcus, I will give them their antibiotic." 4. "If their culture is positive for staphylococcus A, I will give them their antibiotic."
ANS 1, 3. 1. Do not use an antibiotic if the disease is not bacterial in origin. Most sore throats are viral. 2. RF is a bacterial infection caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus, and the drug of choice is penicillin. 3. RF is caused by a streptococcus infection, not by staphylococcus. 4. RF is cause by a streptococcus infection, not by staphylococcus.
9. Which interventions decrease cardiac demands in an infant with congestive heart failure (CHF)? Select all that apply. 1. Allow parents to hold and rock their child. 2. Feed only when the infant is crying. 3. Keep the child uncovered to promote low body temperature. 4. Make frequent position changes. 5. Feed the child when sucking the fists. 6. Change bed linens only when necessary. 7. Organize nursing activities.
ANS 1, 4, 5, 6, 7. 1. Rocking by the parents will comfort the infant and decrease demands. 2. The infant would not be fed when crying because crying increases cardiac demands. The infant might choke if the nipple is placed in the mouth and the child inhales when trying to swallow. 3. Keep the child normothermic to reduce metabolic demands. 4. Frequent position changes will decrease the risk for infection by avoiding immobility with its potential for skin breakdown. 5. An infant sucking the fists could indicate hunger. 6. Change bed linens only when necessary to avoid disturbing the child. 7. Organize nursing activities to avoid disturbing the child
39. Exposure to which illness should be a cause to discontinue therapy and substitute dipyridamole (Persantine) in a child receiving aspirin therapy for Kawasaki disease (KD)? 1. Chickenpox or influenza. 2. E. coli or staphylococcus. 3. Mumps or streptococcus A. 4. Streptococcus A or staphylococcus.
ANS 1. Both chickenpox and influenza are viral in nature, so consider stopping the aspirin because of the danger of Reye syndrome.
36. A child born with Down syndrome should be evaluated for which associated cardiac manifestation? 1. Congenital heart defect (CHD). 2. Systemic hypertension. 3. Hyperlipidemia. 4. Cardiomyopathy.
ANS 1. CHD is found often in children with Down syndrome.
42. A nursing action that promotes ideal nutrition in an infant with congestive heart failure (CHF) is: 1. Feeding formula that is supplemented with additional calories. 2. Allowing the infant to nurse at each breast for 20 minutes. 3. Providing large feedings every 5 hours. 4. Using firm nipples with small openings to slow feedings.
ANS 1. Formula can be supplemented with extra calories, either from a commercial supplement, such as Polycose, or from corn syrup. Calories in formula could increase from 20 kcal/oz to 30 kcal/oz or more.
16. The nurse is caring for a child with Kawasaki disease (KD). A student nurse who is on the unit asks if there are medications to treat this disease. The nurse's response to the student nurse is: 1. Immunoglobulin G and aspirin. 2. Immunoglobulin G and ACE inhibitors. 3. Immunoglobulin E and heparin. 4. Immunoglobulin E and ibuprofen.
ANS 1. High-dose immunoglobulin G and salicylate therapy for inflammation are the current treatment for KD.
53. Which patient could require feeding by gavage? 1. Infant with congestive heart failure (CHF). 2. Toddler with repair of transposition of the great vessels. 3. Toddler with Kawasaki disease (KD) in the acute phase. 4. School-age child with rheumatic fever (RF) and chorea.
ANS 1. The child may experience increased cardiac demand while feeding. Feedings by gavage eliminate that work and still provide high-calorie intake for growth.
30. A child diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) is receiving maintenance doses of digoxin and furosemide. She is rubbing her eyes when she is looking at the lights in the room, and her HR is 70 beats per minute. The nurse expects which laboratory finding? 1. Hypokalemia. 2. Hypomagnesemia. 3. Hypocalcemia. 4. Hypophosphatemia.
ANS 1. The rubbing of the child's eyes may mean that she is seeing halos around the lights, indicating digoxin toxicity. The HR is slow for her age and also indicates digoxin toxicity. A decrease in serum potassium because of the furosemide can increase the risk for digoxin toxicity.
7. Which finding might delay a cardiac catheterization procedure on a 1-year-old? 1. 30th percentile for weight. 2. Severe diaper rash. 3. Allergy to soy. 4. Oxygen saturation of 91% on room air.
ANS 2. A child with severe diaper rash has potential for infection if the interventionist makes the standard groin approach.
49. A child has been seen by the school nurse for dizziness since the start of the school term. It happens when standing in line for recess and homeroom. The child now reports that she would rather sit and watch her friends play hopscotch because she cannot count out loud and jump at the same time. When the nurse asks her if her chest ever hurts, she says yes. Based on this history, the nurse suspects that she has: 1. Ventricular septal defect (VSD). 2. Aortic stenosis (AS). 3. Mitral valve prolapse. 4. Tricuspid atresia.
ANS 2. AS can progress, and the child can develop exercise intolerance that can be better when resting.
22. BP screenings to detect end-organ damage should be done routinely beginning at what age? 1. Birth. 2. 3 years. 3. 8 years. 4. 13 years.
ANS 2. Age 3 years is the recommended age to establish a baseline BP in a normal healthy child.
23. What associated manifestation might the nurse occasionally find in a child diagnosed with Wilms tumor? 1. Atrial fibrillation. 2. Hypertension. 3. Endocarditis. 4. Hyperlipidemia.
ANS 2. Because Wilms tumor sits on the kidney, it can be associated with secondary hypertension. It does not affect or cause the other conditions.
33. A 10-year-old has undergone a cardiac catheterization. At the end of the procedure, the nurse should first assess: 1. Pain. 2. Pulses. 3. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. 4. Catheterization report.
ANS 2. Checking for pulses, especially in the canulated extremity, would assure perfusion to that extremity and is the priority post procedure
43. An 18-month-old with a myelomeningocele is undergoing a cardiac catheterization. The mother expresses concern about the use of dye in the procedure. The child does not have any allergies. In addition to the concern for an iodine allergy, what other allergy should the nurse bring to the attention of the catheterization staff? 1. Soy. 2. Latex. 3. Penicillin. 4. Dairy.
ANS 2. Children with spina bifida (myelo - meningocele) often have a latex allergy. The catheter balloon is often made of latex, and all personnel caring for the patient should be made aware of the allergy.
57. The mother of a toddler reports that the child's father has just had a myocardial infarction (MI). Because of this information, the nurse recommends the child have a(n): 1. Electrocardiogram. 2. Lipid profile. 3. Echocardiogram. 4. Cardiac catheterization.
ANS 2. Current recommendations are for a lipid profile in children over 2 years with a first- or second-degree relative with stroke, myocardial infarction, angina, or sudden cardiac death. Also screen if parent, sibling, or grandparent has cholesterol of 240 mg/dL or greater.
50. The school nurse has been following a child who comes to the office frequently for vague complaints of dizziness and headache. Today, she is brought in after fainting in the cafeteria following a nosebleed. Her BP is 122/85, and her radial pulses are bounding. The nurse suspects she has: 1. Transposition of the great vessels. 2. Coarctation of the aorta (COA). 3. Aortic stenosis (AS). 4. Pulmonic stenosis (PS).
ANS 2. In the older child, COA causes dizziness, headache, fainting, elevated blood pressure, and bounding radial pulses.
55. Aspirin has been ordered for the child with rheumatic fever (RF) in order to: 1. Keep the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) open. 2. Reduce joint inflammation. 3. Decrease swelling of strawberry tongue. 4. Treat ventricular hypertrophy of endocarditis.
ANS 2. Joint inflammation is experienced in RF; aspirin therapy helps with inflammation and pain
44. Treatment for congestive heart failure (CHF) in an infant began 3 days ago and has included digoxin and furosemide. The child no longer has retractions, lungs are clear , and HR is 96 beats per minute while the child sleeps. The nurse is confident that the child has diuresed successfully and has good renal perfusion when the nurse notes the child's urine output is: 1. 0.5 cc/kg/hr. 2. 1 cc/kg/hr. 3. 30 cc/hr. 4. 1 oz/hr.
ANS 2. Normal pediatric urine output is 1 cc/kg/hr
38. A child has a Glasgow Coma Scale of 3, HR of 88 beats per minute and regular, respiratory rate of 22, BP of 78/52, and blood sugar of 35 mg/dL. The nurse asks the caregiver about accidental ingestion of which drug? 1. Calcium channel blocker. 2. Beta blocker. 3. ACE inhibiter. 4. ARB.
ANS 2. The beta blocker not only affects the heart and lungs but also blocks the beta sites in the liver, reducing the amount of glycogen available for use, causing hypoglycemia. The lower HR and BP also suggest
13. While assessing a newborn with respiratory distress, the nurse auscultates a machine-like heart murmur. Other findings are a wide pulse pressure, periods of apnea, increased PaCO2, and decreased PO2. The nurse suspects that the newborn has: 1. Pulmonary hypertension. 2. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). 3. Ventricular septal defect (VSD). 4. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
ANS 2. The main identifier in the stem is the machine-like murmur, which is the hallmark of a PDA.
46. The parents of a 3-month-old ask why their baby will not have an operation to correct a ventricular septal defect (VSD). The nurse's best response is: 1. "It is always helpful to get a second opinion about any serious condition like this." 2. "Your baby's defect is small and will likely close on its own by 1 year of age." 3. "It is common for physicians to wait until an infant develops respiratory distress before they do the surgery." 4. "With a small defect like this, they wait until the child is 10 years old to do the surgery."
ANS 2. Usually a VSD will close on its own within the first year of life.
18. During a well-child checkup for an infant with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), the child develops severe respiratory distress and becomes cyanotic. The nurse's first action should be to: 1. Lay the child flat to promote hemostasis. 2. Lay the child flat with legs elevated to increase blood flow to the heart. 3. Sit the child on the parent's lap, with legs dangling, to promote venous pooling. 4. Hold the child in knee-chest position to decrease venous blood return.
ANS 4. The increase in the SVR would increase afterload and increase blood return to the pulmonary artery.
56. Which vaccines must be delayed for 11 months after the administration of gamma globulin? Select all that apply. 1. Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. 2. Hepatitis B. 3. Inactivated polio virus. 4. Measles, mumps, and rubella. 5. Varicella.
ANS 56. 4, 5. 1. Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis can be given following administration of gamma globulin. These are killed vaccines, and the only vaccines not administered would be live vaccines such as measles, mumps, rubella. 2. Hepatitis B can be administered following gamma globulin. Live vaccines are held for at least 11 months. 3. Inactivated polio virus can be given following gamma globulin administration. Live vaccines are held for 11 months. 4. The body might not produce the appropriate number of antibodies following gamma globulin infusion, so live virus vaccines should be delayed for 11 months. 5. The body might not produce the appropriate number of antibodies following gamma globulin infusion, so live virus vaccines should be delayed for 11 months. TEST-TAKING HINT: Th
15. A child who has reddened eyes with no discharge; red, swollen, and peeling palms and soles of the feet; dry, cracked lips; and a "strawberry tongue" most likely has _____________________.
ANS Kawasaki disease or KD. Classic signs of KD include red eyes with no discharge; dry, cracked lips; strawberry tongue; and red, swollen, and peeling palms and soles of the feet. Incidence of KD is higher in males. The strongest indicator for this disease is the hallmark strawberry tongue.
45. A 3-month-old has been diagnosed with a ventricular septal defect (VSD). The flow of blood through the heart is _____________________.
ANS Left to right. The pressures in the left side of the heart are greater, causing the flow of blood to be from an area of higher pressure to lower pressure, or left to right, increasing the pulmonary blood flow with the extra blood.
10. Indomethacin may be given to close which congenital heart defect (CHD) in newborns? _____________________
ANS Patent ductus arteriosus or PDA Prostaglandins allow the duct to remain open; thus, a prostaglandin inhibitor, such as Indocin or ibuprofen, can help close the duct.
11. For the child with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which drug may be given to allow the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) to remain open until surgery? _____________________
ANS Prostaglandin E. Prostaglandin E maintains ductal patency to promote blood flow until the Norwood procedure is begun. Consider the opposite of wanting to close the PDA.
4. A 10-year-old child is recovering from a severe sore throat. The parent states that the child complains of chest pain. The nurse observes that the child has swollen joints, nodules on the fingers, and a rash on the chest. The likely cause is _____________________.
ANS Rheumatic fever or RF. To make the diagnosis of RF, major and minor criteria are used. Major criteria include carditis, subcutaneous nodules, erythema marginatum, chorea, and arthritis. Minor criteria include fever and previous history of RF
20. A 6-month-old who has episodes of cyanosis after crying could have the congenital heart defect (CHD) of decreased pulmonary blood flow called _____________________.
ANS Tetralogy of Fallot or TOF