Practice Questions: Congenital Heart Defects

1. The nurse explains that a ventricular septal defect will allow:

a. blood to shunt left to right, causing increased pulmonary flow and no cyanosis.

b. blood to shunt right to left, causing decreased pulmonary flow and cyanosis.

c. no shunting because of high pressure in the left ventricle.

d. increased pressure in the left atrium, impeding circulation of oxygenated blood in the circulating volume.

ANS: A

Pulmonary blood flow is increased when a ventricular septal defect exists. The blood shifts from left to right because of the higher pressure in the left ventricle. This particular shift does not cause cyanosis.

2. The assessment that would lead the nurse to suspect that a newborn infant has a ventricular septal defect is:

a. a loud, harsh murmur with a systolic tremor.

b. cyanosis when crying.

c. blood pressure higher in the arms than in the legs.

d. a machinery-like murmur.

ANS: A

A loud, harsh murmur combined with a systolic thrill is characteristic of a ventricular septal defect.

3. The finding the nurse would expect when measuring blood pressure on all four extremities of a child with coarctation of the aorta is blood pressure that is:

a. higher on the right side.

b. higher on the left side.

c. lower in the arms than in the legs.

d. lower in the legs than in the arms.

ANS: D

The characteristic symptoms of coarctation of the aorta are a marked difference in blood pressure and pulses between the upper and lower extremities. Pressure is increased proximal to the defect and decreased distal to the coarctation.

4. When a father asks why his child with tetralogy of Fallot seems to favor a squatting position, the nurse would explain that squatting:

a. increases the return of venous blood back to the heart.

b. decreases arterial blood flow away from the heart.

c. is a common resting position when a child is tachycardic.

d. increases the workload of the heart.

ANS: A

The squatting position allows the child to breathe more easily because systemic venous return is increased.

5. An infant is experiencing dyspnea related to patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). The nurse understands dyspnea occurs because blood is:

a. circulated through the lungs again, causing pulmonary circulatory congestion.

b. shunted past the pulmonary circulation, causing pulmonary hypoxia.

c. shunted past cardiac arteries, causing myocardial hypoxia.

d. circulated through the ductus from the pulmonary artery to the aorta, bypassing the left side of the heart.

ANS: A

When PDA is present, oxygenated blood recycles through the lungs, overburdening the pulmonary circulation.

6. An appropriate nursing action related to the administration of digoxin (Lanoxin) to an infant would be:

a. counting the apical rate for 30 seconds before administering the medication.

b. withholding a dose if the apical heart rate is less than 100 beats/min.

c. repeating a dose if the child vomits within 30 minutes of the previous dose.

d. checking respiratory rate and blood pressure before each dose.

ANS: B

As a rule, if the pulse rate of an infant is below 100 beats/min, the medication is withheld and the physician is notified.

8. The comment made by a parent of a 1-month-old that would alert the nurse about the presence of a congenital heart defect is:

a. "He is always hungry."

b. "He tires out during feedings."

c. "He is fussy for several hours every day."

d. "He sleeps all the time."

ANS: B

Fatigue during feeding or activity is common to most infants with congenital cardiac problems.

9. The nurse is caring for a child with a diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. The child's parent asks the nurse, "How does Kawasaki disease affect my child's heart and blood vessels?" The nurse's response is based on the understanding that:

a. inflammation weakens blood vessels, leading to aneurysm.

b. increased lipid levels lead to the development of atherosclerosis.

c. untreated disease causes mitral valve stenosis.

d. altered blood flow increases cardiac workload with resulting heart failure.

ANS: A

Inflammation of vessels weakens the walls of the vessels and often results in aneurysm.

10. The nurse explained how to position an infant with tetralogy of Fallot if the infant suddenly becomes cyanotic. The nurse can determine the father understood the instructions when he states "If the baby turns blue, I will:

a. hold him against my shoulder with his knees bent up toward his chest."

b. lay him down on a firm surface with his head lower than the rest of his body."

c. immediately put the baby upright in an infant seat."

d. put the baby in supine position with his head elevated."

ANS: A

In the event of a paroxysmal hypercyanotic or "tet" spell, the infant should be placed in a knee-chest position.

11. The parent of a 1-year-old child with tetralogy of Fallot asks the nurse, "Why do my child's fingertips look like that?" The nurse bases a response on the understanding that clubbing occurs as a result of:

a. untreated congestive heart failure.

b. a left-to-right shunting of blood.

c. decreased cardiac output.

d. chronic hypoxia.

ANS: D

Clubbing of the fingers develops in response to chronic hypoxia.

13. An infant with congestive heart failure is receiving digoxin (Lanoxin). The nurse recognizes a sign of digoxin toxicity, which is:

a. restlessness.

b. decreased respiratory rate.

c. increased urinary output.

d. vomiting.

ANS: D

Symptoms of digoxin toxicity include: nausea, vomiting, anorexia, irregularity in pulse rate and rhythm, and a sudden change in pulse.

14. The nurse is aware that the infant born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome must acquire his or her oxygenated blood through:

a. the patent ductus arteriosus.

b. a ventricular septal defect.

c. the closure of the foramen ovale.

d. an atrial septal defect.

ANS: A

Because the right side of the heart must take over pumping blood to both the lungs and systemic circulation, the ductus arteriosus must remain open to shunt the oxygenated blood from the lungs.

17. The nurse is aware that the characteristics of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are that they:

a. have high amounts of triglycerides.

b. have only small amounts of protein.

c. have little cholesterol.

d. aid in steroid production.

ANS: C

HDLs have low amounts of triglycerides, large amounts of proteins, low amount of cholesterol, and are excreted via the liver. They have no role in the production of steroids.

18. The school nurse recommends a heart healthy diet that limits fats to no more than ____% of the total dietary intake.

a. 10

b. 15

c. 20

d. 30

ANS: D

19. How would the nurse caring for an infant with congestive heart failure (CHF) modify feeding techniques to adapt for the child's weakness and fatigue? Select all that apply.

a. Feeding more frequently with smaller feedings

b. Using a soft nipple with enlarged holes

c. Holding and cuddling the child during feeding

d. Substituting glucose water for formula

e. Offering high-caloric formula

ANS: A, B, C, E

Infants with CHF fatigue easily. Feeding can be given more frequently in smaller amounts through a soft large-holed nipple. Formulas with a denser caloric content can be offered. The child may be encouraged to nurse if he or she is held.

20. The nurse uses a diagram to illustrate what four structural heart anomalies that comprise tetralogy of Fallot? Select the four that apply.

a. Hypertrophied right ventricle

b. Patent ductus arteriosus

c. Ventral septal defect

d. Narrowing of pulmonary artery

e. Overriding of aorta

ANS: A, C, D, E

The four anomalies that comprise tetralogy of Fallot are hypertrophied right ventricle, ventral septal defect, stenosis of pulmonary artery, and overriding of the aorta.

21. What assessment(s) in a child with tetralogy of Fallot would indicate the child is experiencing a paroxysmal hypercyanotic episode? Select all that apply.

a. Spontaneous cyanosis

b. Dyspnea

c. Weakness

d. Dry cough

e. Syncope

ANS: A, B, C, E

Indicators of a paroxysmal hypercyanotic episode or a "tet" episode are spontaneous cyanosis, dyspnea, weakness, and syncope.

22. The nurse explains that which congenital cardiac defect(s) cause(s) increased pulmonary blood flow? Select all that apply.

a. Atrial septal defects (ASDs)

b. Tetralogy of Fallot

c. Dextroposition of aorta

d. Patent ductus arteriosus

e. Ventricular septal defects (VSDs)

ANS: A, D, E

The congenital heart defects that cause increased pulmonary blood flow are ASDs, VSDs, and patent ductus arteriosus.