Nursing Diagnosis for Atrial Septal Defect
Atrial septal defect
ASD
Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a congenital heart defect in which the wall that separates the upper heart chambers (atria) does not close completely. Congenital means the defect is present at birth.
Symptoms
Small to moderate sized defects may produce no symptoms, or not until middle age or later. Symptoms that may occur can include:*
Signs and tests
The doctor may hear abnormal heart sounds when listening to the chest with a stethoscope. A murmur may be heard only in certain body positions, and sometimes a murmur may not be heard at all. The physical exam may also reveal signs of heart failure in some adults.
If the shunt is large, increased blood flow across the tricuspid valve may create an additional murmur when the heart relaxes between beats.
Tests that may done include:
Nursing Diagnosis for Atrial Septal Defect
Atrial septal defect
ASD
Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a congenital heart defect in which the wall that separates the upper heart chambers (atria) does not close completely. Congenital means the defect is present at birth.
Symptoms
Small to moderate sized defects may produce no symptoms, or not until middle age or later. Symptoms that may occur can include:*
- Difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
- Frequent respiratory infections in children
- Sensation of feeling the heart beat (palpitations) in adults
- Shortness of breath with activity
Signs and tests
The doctor may hear abnormal heart sounds when listening to the chest with a stethoscope. A murmur may be heard only in certain body positions, and sometimes a murmur may not be heard at all. The physical exam may also reveal signs of heart failure in some adults.
If the shunt is large, increased blood flow across the tricuspid valve may create an additional murmur when the heart relaxes between beats.
Tests that may done include:
- Cardiac catheterization
- Chest x-ray
- Coronary angiography (for patients over 35 years old)
- Doppler study of the heart
- ECG
- Echocardiography
- Heart MRI
- Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)
Nursing Diagnosis for Atrial Septal Defect
- Risk for Decreased Cardiac Output related to the defect structure
- Activity Intolerance related to the disturbance of oxygen transport system
- Altered Growth and Development related to inadequate oxygen and nutrients to the tissues; social isolation.
- Risk for Infection related to the physical status of the weak.
- Risk for Injury (complications) related to heart conditions and therapies
- Altered Family Processes related to having children with heart disease (ASD)
