Description

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital disorder in newborns. Critical CHD, defined as requiring surgery or catheter-based intervention in the first year of life, occurs in approximately 25 percent of those with CHD. Although many newborns with critical CHD are symptomatic and identified soon after birth, others are not diagnosed until after discharge from the birth hospitalisation. In infants with critical cardiac lesions, the risk of morbidity and mortality increased when there is a delay in diagnosis and timely referral to a tertiary center with expertise in treating these patients. Target audience: – Neonatal trainees. – Neonatal nurses. – Pediatric nurses. – Newly qualified neonatal and pediatrics consultants.