Parental Voice in the Recognition of Congenital Heart Disease

Think Heart

8 children in every 1000 has a congenital heart defect.50% of those children have to undergo surgery.88% of them have a one stop surgical procedure.12% need a series of operations or interventions.Each Year between 450 and 500 cases are diagnosed as having a single ventricle heart problem .

Within the West Midlands up to 60% of Complex Congenital Heart Disease is detected Antenatally .

Early discharge•Ductus has not closed.•Cardiac murmurs are still present.•Feeding not established.•Heart rate has not settled.•Oxygen saturations may not have been recorded.

HEART

THINK

National campaign to improve the diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease after birth.

Observation.Questions.Listen to parent experience.Basic tests.

Heart rate - too fast or slow (normally 100 to 160 beats per minute)?

Energy & Eating - sleepy, quiet, too tired to eat, falling asleep during feeds?

Take a full feeding history.•Is the baby getting hungry?•Do they complete a full feed?•Do they fall asleep during a feed?•Is that sleep a deep one?•Does the baby wake for a feed?•Is the baby putting on weight gradually?•Is their weight gain dramatic?

Arterial Saturation - a blue, dusky or grey colour (normal oxygen saturations 95-100%)?

Respiration - breathing too fast or slow (normally 40-60 breaths per minute)?

Recession

Nasal Flaring

Temperature - cold to touch - particularly hands and feet?

Why are they becoming compromised?

Foetal Circulation

Hypoplastic Left Heart

• Heart rate - too fast or slow (normally 100 to 160 beats per minute)?

• Energy & Eating - sleepy, quiet, too tired to eat, falling asleep during feeds?

• Arterial Saturation - a blue, dusky or grey colour (normal oxygen saturations 95-100%)?

• Respiration - breathing too fast or slow (normally 40-60 breaths per minute)?

• Temperature - cold to touch - particularly hands and feet?

THINK HEART

Thank You