Many times when parents are told their baby has a heart defect they immediately assume the worse—whether the defect is simple or complex

Parents don’t always hear all the information given them by the physician

It is the nurse’s role to reinforce this information.  To do that, the nurse needs to have a basic knowledge of cardiac development, fetal circulation & the transitional changes accompanying birth

Most of the time the exact cause of CHD is unknown Many assume CHD is associated with genetic defect when in reality only about 8% of CHD can be attributed to chromosomal anomalies

 

85-90%  of CHD are determined to be multifactorial in origin

Predominately a male event 3-4:1 male to female ratio Except ASD & PDA which occur more frequently in females