Pediatricsadvanced
Summarize the management priorities and prognosis considerations for a child with severe DCM.
Answer
Monitor severely depressed myocardial function for ventricular arrhythmias and treat arrhythmias when present; provide the indicated heart-failure and anticoagulation management; beta-blockers such as metoprolol or carvedilol may be effective. If medical therapy fails, heart transplantation can be effective in children. The course may progressively worsen, with relapses and increasing treatment resistance; ventricular arrhythmias can cause syncope or sudden death.
Explanation
The slides emphasize both pump failure and arrhythmic risk. Severe dysfunction calls for **arrhythmia monitoring**, and identified arrhythmias may require antiarrhythmic drugs. Beta-blockers and anticoagulation are also described; transplantation is an option when medical therapy fails. Prognosis can be poor in progressive disease, particularly once treatment resistance develops. **Key takeaway:** DCM care addresses heart failure, thromboembolism risk, arrhythmia, and possible transplant need.\n\n**Glossary:** **Ventricular arrhythmia**: An abnormal rhythm arising from the ventricles. **Syncope**: Transient loss of consciousness. **Transplantation**: Replacement of the diseased heart with a donor heart.
Related Questions
- Which factors are associated with higher ARF occurrence or susceptibility? Select ALL that apply.(intermediate)
- Explain why ARF remains an important public-health problem despite declining incidence in many industrialized countries.(intermediate)
- Acute rheumatic fever occurs most frequently in children and adolescents aged 5 to 15 years.(basic)
- After a prior episode of ARF, recurrence following untreated GAS pharyngitis can approach 50%.(intermediate)
- The highest incidence of ARF occurs in children aged approximately _____ years.(basic)
Want to practice more questions like this?
Join myBenkio free and practice past questions for your Nigerian university courses with AI explanations for every answer.
Start Practicing Free