Ž. Mudrinić
Služba za kardiologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

J. Torkar
Služba za kardiologijo, Pediatrična klinika, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Abstract

This article presents some special features of the nursing care of the baby, child and adolescent with congenital heart disease. The University Medical Centre in Ljubljana is the only institution for paediatric cardiology in Slovenia. More than 200 new cases of children with congenital heart diseases are treated each year at various levels of the subspecialty. This allows the professional team to gain the expertise crucial for competent nursing care practice. The article highlights this practice from the aspect of some of the patient’s most disease-affected basic everyday activities: eating and drinking, elimination of body waste, breathing, security assurance and measures in emergency situations.

Key words: congenital heart disease, nursing care, child, adolescent.