Atrioventricular septal defect
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
CardiacPediatricsOB / Newbornhigh priorityneeds review
Atrioventricular septal defect
Also testable as: AVSD, AV canal defect, Endocardial cushion defect
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Congenital defect involving the center of the heart where atrial septum, ventricular septum, and AV valves meet.
- Mixing and excess pulmonary blood flow can cause heart failure and poor growth in infancy.
Medications
| Class | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Diuretics | May be ordered for heart failure symptoms before repair. |
Nursing actions
- Assess feeding fatigue, sweating with feeds, tachypnea, cyanosis, weight gain, and hepatomegaly.
- Conserve energy with clustered care and feeding support.
- Prepare caregivers for cardiology follow-up and surgical repair pathway.
Complications
- Heart failure
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Poor growth
- Respiratory infections
NCLEX cues
- Congenital heart disease plus poor feeding.
- Common association with Down syndrome.
- Tachypnea during feeds is cardiac workload.
Memory hooks
- AVSD is a central hole and valve problem.
Labs / Diagnostics
- Echocardiogram
- Pulse oximetry
- Chest x-ray
- Growth trends
Review notes
- Supplemental wife-requested study card. Use for NCLEX review only and verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy.