This book provides the theoretical and practical basis of technical nursing in congenital heart disease; it is intended for nurses and nursing students, and for anyone involved in the treatment of these patients. The improvements in diagnosis and management of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are due to the recent advances in cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology and have meant that an increasing number of infants are reaching adolescence and adulthood. This manual is a practical and easy-to-use guide, which promotes effective cooperation between health professionals.
Congenital heart disease is a disorder that is present at birth, and studies show that the incidence is around eight cases per thousand live births. The heart is formed during the first four - ten weeks of gestation, and alterations to this process can affect normal development, leading to heart defects. There are various types of heart defects: abnormalities that affect a single part of the heart (for example a valve) but also, highly complex abnormalities where there is severe damage to the cardiac architecture. The seriousness of the disease and the effects on child health vary: some forms have no real impact on child health and allow a normal life, while others are incompatible with life.