Congenital Heart Defects: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Question 1

Which of the following is a defining feature of acyanotic congenital heart defects?

Accepted Answer

Normal blood oxygen levels

Answer

Bluish skin discoloration (cyanosis)

Answer

Elevated red blood cell count (polycythemia)

Answer

Enlarged finger and toe tips (clubbing)

Question 2

Which type of congenital heart defect is the most prevalent?

Accepted Answer

Ventricular septal defect

Answer

Tetralogy of Fallot

Answer

Patent ductus arteriosus

Answer

Coarctation of the aorta

Question 3

What are the characteristic clinical signs of a neonate with transposition of the great arteries?

Accepted Answer

Cyanosis and tachypnea

Answer

Dyspnea and tachycardia

Answer

Lethargy and poor feeding

Answer

No apparent symptoms

Question 4

Which of the following is not a known risk factor for the development of congenital heart defects?

Accepted Answer

Advanced paternal age

Answer

Diabetes in the mother

Answer

Maternal rubella infection

Answer

Parental consanguinity

Question 5

In evaluating congenital heart defects, what is the recommended first-line imaging technique?

Accepted Answer

Echocardiography

Answer

Chest X-ray

Answer

Computed tomography (CT) scan

Answer

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Question 6

Which of the following types of congenital heart defects is characterized by cyanosis?

Accepted Answer

Tetralogy of Fallot

Answer

Atrial septal defect

Answer

Patent ductus arteriosus

Answer

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Question 7

In newborns with congenital heart defects, what is the most common cause of heart failure?

Accepted Answer

Left-to-right shunts

Answer

Right-to-left shunts

Answer

Valvular regurgitation

Answer

Myocardial hypertrophy

Question 8

Which test is recommended for screening for congenital heart defects in the newborn period?

Accepted Answer

Pulse oximetry

Answer

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Answer

Echocardiography

Answer

Chest X-ray

Question 9

What is the prognosis for a child with a small ventricular septal defect?

Accepted Answer

Excellent, with a high probability of spontaneous closure

Answer

Good, but may require surgical intervention

Answer

Fair, with potential for long-term complications

Answer

Poor, with high mortality

Question 10

Which cyanotic congenital heart defect is most prevalent?

Accepted Answer

Tetralogy of Fallot

Answer

Transposition of the great arteries

Answer

Ventricular septal defect

Answer

Atrial septal defect

Question 11

The most prevalent acyanotic congenital heart defect is:

Accepted Answer

Patent ductus arteriosus

Answer

Atrial septal defect

Answer

Ventricular septal defect

Answer

Coarctation of the aorta

Question 12

The definitive treatment for a significant ventricular septal defect in a neonate is:

Accepted Answer

Surgical closure

Answer

Percutaneous closure

Answer

Medical management

Answer

Observation

Question 13

Which of the following is not a major cyanotic congenital heart defect?

Accepted Answer

Atrial Septal Defect

Answer

Tetralogy of Fallot

Answer

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Answer

Transposition of the Great Arteries

Question 14

Which intervention is not a surgical option for treating congenital heart defects?

Accepted Answer

Pharmacological therapy

Answer

Balloon atrial septostomy

Answer

Coarctation repair

Answer

Stent placement

Question 15

Which screening test is recommended for detecting congenital heart defects in newborns?

Accepted Answer

Pulse oximetry

Answer

Chest X-ray

Answer

Electrocardiogram

Answer

Echocardiogram

Question 16

Which congenital heart defect is characterized by a combination of ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, right ventricular hypertrophy, and overriding aorta?

Accepted Answer

Tetralogy of Fallot

Answer

Atrial septal defect

Answer

Coarctation of the aorta

Answer

Transposition of the great arteries

Question 17

Which of the following murmurs is typically associated with tetralogy of Fallot?

Accepted Answer

Harsh systolic murmur at the left upper sternal border

Answer

Soft systolic murmur at the apex

Answer

Continuous murmur at the base of the heart

Answer

Mid-diastolic rumble at the apex

Question 18

Which non-invasive imaging technique is most commonly used to diagnose congenital heart defects in neonates?

Accepted Answer

Echocardiography

Answer

Chest radiography

Answer

Electrocardiography

Answer

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Question 19

In fetal circulation, the ductus venosus serves to:

Accepted Answer

Connect the umbilical vein to the inferior vena cava

Answer

Connect the pulmonary artery to the aorta

Answer

Connect the left atrium to the right atrium

Answer

Connect the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT a known risk factor for congenital heart defects in infants?

Accepted Answer

Regular exercise during pregnancy

Answer

Maternal diabetes during pregnancy

Answer

Rubella infection during pregnancy

Answer

Advanced maternal age

Question 21

A neonate presents with cyanosis, clubbing, and a heart murmur. Which of the following congenital heart defects is most likely present?

Accepted Answer

Tetralogy of Fallot

Answer

Ventricular septal defect

Answer

Atrial septal defect

Answer

Coarctation of the aorta

Question 22

Which of the following is the preferred initial diagnostic test for evaluating congenital heart defects?

Accepted Answer

Echocardiography

Answer

Chest X-ray

Answer

Electrocardiogram

Answer

Cardiac catheterization

Question 23

Which of the following is a potential long-term complication of untreated congenital heart defects?

Accepted Answer

Any of the above

Answer

Eisenmenger syndrome

Answer

Pulmonary arterial hypertension

Answer

Heart failure

Question 24

Which of the following medications is commonly used in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart defects?

Accepted Answer

Sildenafil

Answer

Propranolol

Answer

Digoxin

Answer

Furosemide

Question 25

For a child with tetralogy of Fallot, which surgical procedure is usually the final corrective repair?

Accepted Answer

Complete repair with pulmonary valve replacement or enlargement

Answer

Balloon atrial septostomy

Answer

Stent placement in the pulmonary artery

Answer

Transposition of the great arteries

Question 26

What type of murmur is typically heard in a patient with an isolated ventricular septal defect (VSD)?

Accepted Answer

A holosystolic murmur at the left lower sternal border radiating to the axilla

Answer

A diastolic murmur at the right upper sternal border radiating to the neck

Answer

A systolic ejection click with a delayed systolic murmur

Answer

A continuous machinery murmur

Question 27

Which clinical feature is characteristically observed in Tetralogy of Fallot?

Accepted Answer

Cyanosis

Answer

Polycythemia

Answer

Heart murmur

Answer

Leg edema

Question 28

In a newborn presenting with critical pulmonary stenosis, which initial therapeutic intervention is indicated?

Accepted Answer

Prostaglandin infusion

Answer

Cardiac catheterization

Answer

Mechanical ventilation

Answer

Medications to lower blood pressure

Question 29

In children with transposition of the great arteries, which complication poses the greatest threat to survival?

Accepted Answer

Heart failure

Answer

Aortic arch obstruction

Answer

Pulmonary artery stenosis

Answer

Arrhythmias

Question 30

Which clinical finding is typical for cyanotic congenital heart defects?

Accepted Answer

Clubbing

Answer

Delayed capillary refill

Answer

Increased respiratory rate

Answer

Cardiomegaly

Question 31

What is the initial diagnostic tool for suspected congenital heart defects?

Accepted Answer

Echocardiography

Answer

Chest X-ray

Answer

Cardiac catheterization

Answer

Electrocardiogram

Question 32

Which surgical procedure is commonly used to correct tetralogy of Fallot?

Accepted Answer

Rastelli procedure

Answer

ASD closure

Answer

VSD closure

Answer

Glenn shunt

Question 33

Which maternal infection can lead to congenital heart defects in the fetus?

Accepted Answer

Rubella

Answer

Cytomegalovirus

Answer

Herpes simplex virus

Answer

Varicella-zoster virus

Question 34

What is the cornerstone in the management of neonates with congenital heart defects?

Accepted Answer

Early detection and intervention

Answer

Monitoring growth and development

Answer

Nutritional support

Answer

Psychological support

Question 35

Which is the primary goal of prenatal screening for congenital heart defects?

Accepted Answer

Early diagnosis and intervention

Answer

Reduction of maternal anxiety

Answer

Genetic counseling

Answer

Identification of high-risk pregnancies

Question 36

Which of the following is a commonly encountered cause of cyanotic congenital heart defects?

Accepted Answer

Tetralogy of Fallot

Answer

Patent ductus arteriosus

Answer

Atrial septal defect

Answer

Ventricular septal defect

Question 37

A newborn presents with cyanosis, clubbing, and a harsh systolic murmur. These clinical findings are most indicative of which congenital heart defect?

Accepted Answer

Tetralogy of Fallot

Answer

Transposition of the great arteries

Answer

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Answer

Truncus arteriosus

Question 38

Which surgical approach is primarily employed to address ventricular septal defects?

Accepted Answer

Patch closure

Answer

Arterial switch operation

Answer

Cardiac catheterization

Answer

Fontan procedure

Question 39

Which medication is commonly administered to treat a patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants?

Accepted Answer

Indomethacin

Answer

Digoxin

Answer

Heparin

Answer

Amiodarone

Question 40

Which of the following is a distinguishing feature of acyanotic congenital heart defects?

Accepted Answer

Absence of cyanosis

Answer

Presence of clubbing

Answer

Increased pulmonary blood flow

Answer

Low oxygen saturation

Question 41

Congenital heart defects can potentially lead to which of the following complications?

Accepted Answer

Heart failure

Answer

Cancer

Answer

Blindness

Answer

Diabetes

Question 42

Which of the following is NOT considered a risk factor for congenital heart defects?

Accepted Answer

Maternal age <35 years old

Answer

Maternal diabetes

Answer

Consanguinity

Answer

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy

Question 43

Which type of congenital heart defect involves a hole in the wall separating the two upper chambers of the heart?

Accepted Answer

Atrial septal defect (ASD)

Answer

Ventricular septal defect (VSD)

Answer

Transposition of the great arteries

Answer

Tetralogy of Fallot

Question 44

What are the characteristic clinical signs of a cyanotic congenital heart defect?

Accepted Answer

Blue-gray skin discoloration, rapid breathing, and poor weight gain

Answer

Chest pain, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath

Answer

Hoarseness, noisy breathing, and wheezing

Question 45

Which diagnostic test is most commonly used to visualize and confirm the presence of a congenital heart defect?

Accepted Answer

Echocardiogram

Answer

Chest X-ray

Answer

Cardiac catheterization

Answer

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Question 46

Which of the following statements accurately reflects the management of congenital heart defects?

Accepted Answer

Early detection and prompt intervention are crucial for optimal outcomes.

Answer

Lifestyle modifications are the primary treatment for most congenital heart defects.

Answer

All congenital heart defects require surgical intervention.

Question 47

Which of the following congenital heart defects carries the highest risk of mortality?

Accepted Answer

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)

Answer

Transposition of the great arteries

Answer

Coarctation of the aorta

Answer

Tetralogy of Fallot

Question 48

A newborn presents with cyanosis, tachypnea, and a single S2 heart sound. Which of the following congenital heart defects is most likely responsible for these findings?

Accepted Answer

Tetralogy of Fallot

Answer

Ventricular Septal Defect

Answer

Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Answer

Atrial Septal Defect

Question 49

A 3-month-old infant with a history of a murmur is found to have a large left-to-right shunt. Which of the following is the most likely congenital heart defect?

Accepted Answer

Ventricular Septal Defect

Answer

Pulmonary Stenosis

Answer

Coarctation of the Aorta

Question 50

Which of the following is a common clinical feature of both coarctation of the aorta and aortic stenosis?

Accepted Answer

Upper extremity hypertension

Answer

Hepatomegaly

Answer

Cyanosis

Answer

Pulmonary edema

Question 51

A pregnant woman is screened for fetal heart defects. Which of the following is the most commonly identified congenital heart defect in fetal echocardiography?

Accepted Answer

Ventricular Septal Defect

Answer

Transposition of the Great Arteries

Answer

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Answer

Tetralogy of Fallot

Question 52

A newborn presents with a continuous machinery-like murmur best heard at the left upper sternal border. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Answer

Coarctation of the Aorta

Answer

Ventricular Septal Defect

Answer

Atrial Septal Defect

Question 53

Which of the following is a risk factor for congenital heart defects?

Accepted Answer

Maternal diabetes

Answer

Low birth weight

Answer

Maternal age < 30 years

Answer

Premature birth

Question 54

A newborn with a suspected congenital heart defect undergoes an echocardiogram. Which of the following findings is consistent with transposition of the great arteries?

Accepted Answer

Aorta arising from the right ventricle and pulmonary artery from the left ventricle

Answer

A single ventricle with a common outflow tract

Answer

Aorta arising from the left ventricle and pulmonary artery from the right ventricle

Question 55

A 2-year-old child with a history of a congenital heart defect is brought to the emergency department with cyanosis and respiratory distress. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial management?

Accepted Answer

Oxygen supplementation

Answer

Diuretics

Answer

Immediate surgery

Answer

Intravenous fluids

Question 56

Which of the following congenital heart defects typically presents with a "boot-shaped" heart on chest X-ray?

Accepted Answer

Tetralogy of Fallot

Answer

Coarctation of the Aorta

Answer

Atrial Septal Defect

Answer

Ventricular Septal Defect

Question 57

A newborn with a suspected congenital heart defect is being evaluated for surgical intervention. Which of the following is a major consideration for surgical timing?

Accepted Answer

Hemodynamic stability

Answer

Type of surgery planned

Answer

Age of the infant

Answer

Availability of the surgeon