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Anyone Who Had A Heart by Phil Stephens

Part IV—Brianna

Here is a table of some of the children’s vital signs soon after they arrived in the Intensive care Unit:

ParameterBriannaChristopher
Color of finger tips and lipsBlue (Cyanotic)Pink
Heart rate (b/m)160120
Heart soundsLub whirrrrrr dupNormal
Blood pressure85/55110/70
Arterial PO2100100
BehaviorLethargic; sleepyNormal
BreathingHeavy, rapid, congestedNormal
FeedingDisinterestedNormal

Brianna’s congestion is becoming progressively worse and she is coughing. And, although she is lethargic, the coughing is keeping her awake.

Questions

  1. What new signs or symptoms do the two babies exhibit?
  2. What are the possible diagnoses for Brianna’s condition at this time? For each diagnosis that you come up with, describe the signs or symptoms that relate to that diagnosis.
  3. If you were the pediatrician, what tests would you perform to help you narrow the possible diagnoses for Brianna’s condition?

Go to Part V—“Brianna: Follow-up”


Originally published at http://www.sciencecases.org/fetal_heart/fetal_heart4.asp

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