[APinkston]

I am a nursing student and currently in my Peds rotation. Last week in post cnference, we learned about atrial septal defect. What nursing care is given to a patient with this defect? What complications will the patient have? Have any of you had exerience with caring for a patient with ASD? If so, I would appreciate any information.

[atlkidrn]

Check out my reply under the "pediatric nursing" section!

[BebeBertha]

Hi! Your post caught my eye because about 11 yrs. ago I underwent Open-heart surgery to repair my ASD. (I was 3or4 at the time-I don't remember. ;-) ) As of now, I have no heart murmur or repercussions from it. I am healthy, normal size for my age and am able to participate in sports with no problems. Granted, I may just be a lucky one, but with all the advances in technology today, well.... God Bless! XOXOX

[Bruno Matos]

Originally posted by APinkston
I am a nursing student and currently in my Peds rotation. Last week in post cnference, we learned about atrial septal defect. What nursing care is given to a patient with this defect? What complications will the patient have? Have any of you had exerience with caring for a patient with ASD? If so, I would appreciate any information.

Hello. I am a nurse from Portugal, working in a PICU just for congenital heart defects.
The ASD it´s one of the most simple cardiac defect. A lot of times it´s corrected trough a cardiac catheterization. It can be assimptomatic, depends of the size. The child can be cianotic, we have to monitorize the peripheric O2 saturation.

I hope this can help you.

[cna on her way]

My 8 year old son was born with an ASD in fact once they went in to do surgery he had 2 small holes and one larger one. He had several respiratory infections prior to surgery and had low weight gain. After surgery he has gained to a very normal level and his infections have become much more spuratic. He has no physical limitations due to the defect and only needs to be seen annually for a repeat EKG.