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.

H E A R T THINK National campaign to improve the diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease after birth.

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

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

E nergy & 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?

A rterial Saturation - a blue, dusky or grey colour (normal oxygen saturations %)?

R espiration - breathing too fast or slow (normally breaths per minute)?

Recession Nasal Flaring

T emperature - 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 %)? Respiration - breathing too fast or slow (normally breaths per minute)? Temperature - cold to touch - particularly hands and feet? THINK HEART

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