• To enhance your knowledge of the cardiovascular system
• To increase your awareness of some of the congenital heart defects found in children and young people
• To count towards revalidation as part of your 35 hours of CPD, you may wish to write a reflective account (UK readers)
• To contribute towards your professional development and local registration renewal requirements (non-UK readers)
This article is the third in a series on the biological basis of child health. It outlines how the cardiovascular system develops during gestation and how congenital heart defects (CHDs) may arise in the process. The article details the pathophysiology and treatment of some of the common CHDs, including patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect and transposition of the great arteries. It explains the possible causes of CHDs and explains how these defects are detected and diagnosed. The article also provides an overview of the initial management of acutely unwell infants and children who present with a CHD. The first two articles in the series looked at cells and genetics, and embryology.
Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2020.e1245
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to open peer review and has been checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondence Conflict of interestNone declared
Crawford D (2020) Biological basis of child health 3: development of the cardiovascular system and congenital heart defects. Nursing Children and Young People. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2020.e1245
Published online: 18 May 2020
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