A nurse is caring for an infant that has recently been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. Which of the following clinical signs would most likely be present?
A. Slow pulse rate
B. Weight gain
C. Decreased systolic pressure
D. Irregular WBC lab values
Correct Answer: B. Weight gain
Weight gain due to fluid accumulation is associated with heart failure and congenital heart defects. When the heart does not circulate blood normally, the kidneys receive less blood and filter less fluid out of the circulation into the urine. The extra fluid in the circulation builds up in the lungs, the liver, around the eyes, and sometimes in the legs.
Option A: One of the symptoms of congenital heart defect is a rapid heartbeat. The heart must work harder to pump blood and supply enough for all the body systems.
Option C: There is an increase in the systolic blood pressure to compensate for the decrease of sufficient oxygen.
Option D: Irregular WBC is not a symptom of a congenital heart defect. An elevated WBC count is directly associated with an increased incidence of coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke and mortality from cardiovascular disease in African-American and White men and women. An elevated total white blood cell (WBC) count is a risk factor for atherosclerotic vascular disease.