The nurse is assessing a 36-week gestational age newborn. Upon auscultation, she hears a late systolic murmur in the left intrascapular area with no femoral pulse but increased brachial pulses. What treatment should this infant receive?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The infant is presenting with signs of Coarctation of the Aorta (CoA). CoA is a narrowing of the aorta which can cause decreased blood flow to the lower extremities and increased blood flow to the upper extremities resulting in the increase of brachial pulses and absent or decreased femoral pulses. The late systolic murmur heard in the left intrascapular area is likely due to the increased flow across the narrowed aorta. Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) is given to maintain ductal patency and increase blood flow to the lower extremities until surgical resection of the aorta can be performed. The other options are not indicated for CoA. Indomethacin is used to close a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), Lanoxin is used mainly for heart rate control and palliative surgery followed by corrective surgery is not the treatment of choice for CoA.

The Nurse Is Assessing a 36-Week Gestational Age Newborn