Left Sided Obstructive Congenital Heart Defects

Congenital heart defects that comprise obstruction to systemic blood flow are some of the most difficult to treat surgically. These defects typically present in the neonatal period or early infancy with a presentation ranging from tachypnea and tachycardia to cardiogenic shock. In this article, defects such as aortic stenosis, coarctation of the aorta, interrupted aortic arch, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome will be discussed. Various medical and surgical management strategies will be presented, as well as a discussion regarding common ongoing and/or recurrent problems within this population of infants. The bedside nurse is the key in assisting parental caregivers to understand the anatomy of the infant's cardiac defect, teach them to care for their baby at home, and learn to interpret and subsequently intervene for their infant's symptoms.