Complete congenital heart block: a review and case study.
Complete congenital heart block (CCHB) is a rare disease of the newborn that carries significant morbidity and mortality. It generally occurs as a result of the presence of maternal autoantibodies that are transferred to the fetus and affect the fetal heart, or it may be associated with a congenital structural abnormality of the heart. Infants with CCHB are at risk for diminished cardiac output and the subsequent development of congestive heart failure. Many infants require the placement of a cardiac pacemaker. It is essential that the nurse caring for these infants have a good understanding of the disease process and be familiar with the unique problems that these infants and their families may encounter.
Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
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D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors