INFANT CARDIAC PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
UNFOLDING REASONING MANDY GRAY
CLINICAL WALKTHROUGH 2026
◉ An infant that is born with ventricular septal defect (VSD) may
present with which of the following on cardiac auscultation?
a. Sounds WNL
b. Crackles
c. Stridor
d. Whooshing. Answer: d. Whooshing
This whooshing sound heard on auscultation is referred to as a murmur,
and is the result of blood passing through the hole in the interventricular
septum.
◉ An infant that is born with a large ventricular septal defect may
present with which of the following? [SATA]
a. Tachypnea and labored respirations
b. Heart murmur as only manifestation
c. Trouble feeding and growing at a normal rate
d. Symptoms that may not present until several weeks after birth.
Answer: a, c, d
, Infants born with VSD of a large size may breathe faster and harder than
normal, have trouble feeding and growing at a normal rate, and may not
develop symptoms until several weeks after birth. Over time these
symptoms may cause permanent damage to the lung blood vessels.
◉ A mother of an infant born with a small VSD is asking the nurse what
will need to be done regarding treating her infant. The nurse's would
base their response based on which of the following rationales:
a. This child will likely require surgery to correct this defect
b. This child will require medicines to correct this defect
c. Since the defect is small, it will likely close on its own and will not
require treatment.. Answer: c. Since the defect is small, it will likely
close on its own and will not require treatment.
◉ A two-month-old is showing signs and symptoms of heart failure. An
echocardiogram is ordered. The test shows the infant has a ventricular
septal defect (VSD). Which statement below best describes the blood
flow in the heart due to this congenital heart defect?
A. "The blood in the heart is shunting from the right ventricle to the left
ventricle, which is increasing pulmonary blood flow."
B. "The blood in the heart is shunting from the left ventricle to the right
ventricle, which is decreasing pulmonary blood flow."
UNFOLDING REASONING MANDY GRAY
CLINICAL WALKTHROUGH 2026
◉ An infant that is born with ventricular septal defect (VSD) may
present with which of the following on cardiac auscultation?
a. Sounds WNL
b. Crackles
c. Stridor
d. Whooshing. Answer: d. Whooshing
This whooshing sound heard on auscultation is referred to as a murmur,
and is the result of blood passing through the hole in the interventricular
septum.
◉ An infant that is born with a large ventricular septal defect may
present with which of the following? [SATA]
a. Tachypnea and labored respirations
b. Heart murmur as only manifestation
c. Trouble feeding and growing at a normal rate
d. Symptoms that may not present until several weeks after birth.
Answer: a, c, d
, Infants born with VSD of a large size may breathe faster and harder than
normal, have trouble feeding and growing at a normal rate, and may not
develop symptoms until several weeks after birth. Over time these
symptoms may cause permanent damage to the lung blood vessels.
◉ A mother of an infant born with a small VSD is asking the nurse what
will need to be done regarding treating her infant. The nurse's would
base their response based on which of the following rationales:
a. This child will likely require surgery to correct this defect
b. This child will require medicines to correct this defect
c. Since the defect is small, it will likely close on its own and will not
require treatment.. Answer: c. Since the defect is small, it will likely
close on its own and will not require treatment.
◉ A two-month-old is showing signs and symptoms of heart failure. An
echocardiogram is ordered. The test shows the infant has a ventricular
septal defect (VSD). Which statement below best describes the blood
flow in the heart due to this congenital heart defect?
A. "The blood in the heart is shunting from the right ventricle to the left
ventricle, which is increasing pulmonary blood flow."
B. "The blood in the heart is shunting from the left ventricle to the right
ventricle, which is decreasing pulmonary blood flow."
