Congenital Heart Disease ― The Nursing Care Handbook

Congenital heart disease is a disorder that is present at birth, and studies show that the incidence is around eight cases per thousand live births. The heart is formed during the first four - ten weeks of gestation, and alterations to this process can affect normal development, leading to heart defects. There are various types of heart defects: abnormalities that affect a single part of the heart (for example a valve) but also, highly complex abnormalities where there is severe damage to the cardiac architecture. The seriousness of the disease and the effects on child health vary: some forms have no real impact on child health and allow a normal life, while others are incompatible with life.

Serena Francesca Flocco, RN, MsN(s) Coordinator Nurse of Congenital Pediatric and Adult Heart Outpatient Clinic, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy. Adjunct professor of Nursing at University of Milan and Supervisor of Nursing Undergraduate programs at University of Milan. She leads Nursing Scientific Projects “AICCA Onlus” (Associazione italiana dei Cardiopatici Congeniti Adulti. She is an Affiliate member of the Italian Society of Pediatric Cardiology.

Angelo Lillo, RN Mentor on student nurses in Level I II° center of Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi, Unit of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery Research EBN: currently involved in the research of the management of central venous catheters. Manager of Staff Training, Manager of Biomedical equipment. National Coordinator of Affiliates members of the Italian Society of Pediatric Cardiology.