Table of Contents
Do a full adult cardiac examination with the following additional components.
General
- Dysmorphic features (Down’s, Williams and DiGeorge syndromes associated with congenital heart disease; Turner syndrome associated with AS; Noonan syndrome associated with PS)
- Work of breathing
- Colour (pallor, cyanosis, mottling)
- Alertness and interest in surroundings
- Nutritional status
Normal paediatric observations
| <1 year | 1-2 years | 2-5 years | 5-12 years | >12 years | |
| Resp rate | 30-40 | 25-35 | 25-30 | 20-25 | 15-20 |
| Heart rate | 110-160 | 100-150 | 95-140 | 80-120 | 60-100 |
Auscultation
- Also listen in the left interscapular area (systolic murmur = coarctation of the aorta), and in the left infraclavicular area (systolic murmur = coarctation of the aorta; continuous machinery-like murmur = patent ductus arteriosus)
To complete
- Observations including blood pressure
- Preductal (right hand) and postductal (left hand or either foot) oxygen saturations to assess for critical congenital heart disease (both should be ≥95%)
- Growth charts
