The number of infants born with congenital heart defects continues to increase. According to the CDC, 2 percent of children born with a heart defect have what’s considered to be a critical congenital heart defect. Infants born with congenital heart defects experience a range of complications and often requires a skilled nursing team of specialists to overcome the health challenges they face.
How Common Are Heart Defects in Infants?
Congenital heart defects in infants are common, but recent trends show an increase in the number of infants requiring specialized care for heart conditions. Approximately, 4,800 babies are born annually with a heart condition. A heart condition in an infant may affect the septum, heart valves, or the arteries and veins.
Infant Cardiac Patient Symptoms
Infants with heart defects exhibit health challenges like rapid breathing, slow weight gain, sweating, skin discoloration, swelling to the limbs, and other issues. It often requires a team of medical professionals, which may include skilled nursing care professionals, to support the infant’s progression through various growth milestones.
Pediatric Skilled Nursing for Cardiac Patients
Pediatric nursing care for infants in Georgia can be beneficial in many cases. Pediatric nurses in Georgia are especially skilled to provide specialized nursing care for infants with heart conditions requiring medication management, tube feedings, and dietary support.
Tube feedings for infants with heart conditions: Children experiencing trouble breathing during feedings can be closely monitored to ensure the infant’s safety. Pediatric nurses can assist the child with weight gain by overseeing tube feedings. Pediatric nurses provide NG (nasogastric) tube feedings, JT (jejunostomy) tube feeding,s or GT (gastrostomy) tube feedings for infants with heart conditions.
Medication management for infant cardiac patients: Medication management for infants with heart conditions is another important aspect of skilled nursing care. Infants are often prescribed medications like digoxin or furosemide to control heart symptoms. Nursing professionals educate families on best practices for proper storage and administration of medications.
Nutrition assistance for infants with heart conditions: Skilled nursing care for infants may also include nutrition assistance. They can assist with increasing the caloric intake of infants who may be underweight and experiencing weight gain challenges.
Skilled nursing care for infants who require oxygen therapy: In cases where oxygen therapy is required, a pediatric nurse provides the recommended treatment for infants with blue spells. Careful insertion of the tube and provision of the prescribed oxygen amounts is key to supplying adequate oxygen levels for the child with cyanotic defects.
The good news about infants with heart defects in Georgia is that many patients usually overcome these many health challenges and go on to lead healthy, normal lives. Proper skilled nursing care for children with heart defects can really make a difference and ultimately influence the future quality of life.
Author Info
No Comments