An 8-week-old infant’s well-baby check reveals a murmur, and an echocardiogram shows a large ventricular septal defect. If left untreated, what condition could develop?

Children's cardiovascular anatomy and physiology change rapidly during the first few days after birth, and reach adult levels later in infancy. These differences include: Heart rate: At rest, a baby's heart may beat up to 130 to 150 times a minute, while an adult's heart often beats between 60 and 100 times a minute Cardiac output: Children have higher cardiac output per kilogram than adults Oxygen delivery: Children have higher oxygen consumption than adults Stroke volume: Children have smaller hearts, so their stroke volume is lower than that for adults for the same rate of work  These... Show more

Children's cardiovascular anatomy and physiology change rapidly during the first few days after birth, and reach adult levels later in infancy. These differences include:
Heart rate: At rest, a baby's heart may beat up to 130 to 150 times a minute, while an adult's heart often beats between 60 and 100 times a minute
Cardiac output: Children have higher cardiac output per kilogram than adults
Oxygen delivery: Children have higher oxygen consumption than adults
Stroke volume: Children have smaller hearts, so their stroke volume is lower than that for adults for the same rate of work 

These differences make neonates and infants cardiovascular physiology different from those of older children and adults. For example, perturbations in normal age-related cardiovascular physiology are common in pediatric surgical patients. 
 

Related Test: Pathophysiology Practice Test: Alterations of Cardiovascular Function

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