Teratology of Fallot, Essay Example

Teratology of Fallot is defined as a congenital heart defect which leads to low blood oxygen levels and cyanosis of the skin (PubMed Health, 2011). In its most common form, Teratology of Fallot is comprised several defects, including ventricular septal defect, a narrowed pulmonary outflow tract (PubMed Health, 2011). When patients are diagnosed with this most common congenital heart defect, there is a greater likelihood that other heart defects will also be evident, and with this condition, continuous monitoring and evaluation is required (PubMed Health, 2011). Key risk factors for Teratology of Fallot include diabetes, alcoholism before and during pregnancy, poor nutritional choices during pregnancy, and a diagnosis of rubella or other viral conditions during pregnancy (PubMed Health, 2011). Common symptoms include the inability to feed properly and gain weight, clubbed fingers, cyanosis, and limited overall development (PubMed Health, 2011). Tests for diagnosis include complete blood count (CBC), echocardiogram, chest x-ray, and MRI, and treatments include one or more surgeries to repair the defect (PubMed Health, 2011).

Myocardial Infarction Versus Unstable Angina

One differential diagnosis for this patient is myocardial infarction, as she presented with the following: history of pain in left mid parasternal border which improves when laying down, flulike symptoms including fatigue, shortness of breath, hyperlipidemia with an LDL level of 242, regular tobacco use, increasing age, a family history of MI, and the use of birth control over a period of several years (Cleveland Clinic, 2013). Each of these factors supports the differential diagnosis of MI; however, she is subject to a number of exclusion factors, noted as follows: she is female and is typically at lower risk for MI, her heard sounds are normal with no murmurs, lung sounds are normal with no crackles, the abdomen is not distended, hemoglobin is not dangerously low, and WBC is elevated but not excessively high (Cleveland Clinic, 2013).

The primary diagnosis, however, is unstable angina, which would explain her elevated LDL/hyperlipidemia, dull chest pain concentrated in the left mid parasternal border, shortness of breath, history of coronary disease in the family, and tobacco use. The use of ECG, serum chemistry, and serial cardiac biomarkers are necessary to confirm this diagnosis (Medscape Reference, 2013). However, women are at high risk for misdiagnosis and therefore pre-discharge stress testing and recognizing that ECG and cardiac enzyme testing are not definitive in confirming unstable angina (Medscape Reference, 2013).

Works Cited

Cleveland Clinic (2013). Acute Myocardial Infarction. Retrieved from http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/cardiology/acute-myocardial-infarction/#s0015

Medscape Reference (2013). Unstable angina workup. Retrieved fromhttp://emedicine.medscape.com/article/159383-workup

PubMed Health (2011). Teratology of Fallot. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002534/