Physical exam for congenital heart defects

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During a physical exam for a congenital heart defect, the health professional will:

Check your child's weight and length.
Check your child's heart rate and blood pressure.
Listen to your child's heart and lungs with a stethoscope to detect whether a heart murmur is present. A heart murmur can be normal in children but should be checked by a health professional.
Check your child's heart rate (pulses) on the neck, wrist, legs, and feet.
Check your child's nail beds, lips, and skin for a bluish tint (cyanosis) and/or clubbing. Your health professional may also check the amount of oxygen in your child's blood with an oximeter.
Look at the skin over the blood vessels in the neck to see whether the vessels bulge. This may happen if the heart is weak (heart failure).
Look at and feel your child's belly to check for an enlarged liver. The liver may be enlarged in children who have heart failure.

Credits

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Author	Robin Parks, MS
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Larry A. Latson, MD - Pediatric Cardiology
Last Updated	October 25, 2007

Last updated:	October 25, 2007
Author:	Robin Parks, MS
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Larry A. Latson, MD - Pediatric Cardiology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC

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