Congenital anomalies are defects present at birth that are caused by genetic and environmental factors. Some anomalies are obvious at birth like cleft lip, while others manifest later. Major anomalies require surgery, while minor ones have no functional implications. The most common anomalies in India are central nervous system and musculoskeletal abnormalities. Risk factors include advanced maternal age, consanguinity, and malnutrition. Nurses play an important role in educating families on prevention, screening, and caring for children with congenital anomalies.

1. Congenital Anomalies

2. • Congenital anomalies are those defects
and diseases which are substantially
determined before or during birth and
recognizable in early life.
• Some disorders are detected at birth, eg;
cleft lip and cleft palate.

3. • Some are obvious in early life like congenital hip
dislocation which is detected until walking
commence and some may become apparent until
much later in life, e.g; patent ductus arteriosus, which
is usually diagnosed at school age or even later.
• Some defects are classified as major which may
require surgical interventions, either as emergency
or elective.
• Some are classified as minor and have no functional
implications, like skin tags in front of the ear.

4. Definition
• A WHO document describes congenital
anomaly being used to include all
biochemical, structural and functional
disorders present at birth and the congenital
malformation should be confined to structural
defects only, present at birth.

5. Incidence
• In India, the incidence of congenital defects is
about 2.5 to 4% among children most common
type of birth defects is CNS abnormalities,
approximately 22 % of all defects.
• In Northern part of India, neural tube defects are
most common, where as in the rest of India
musculoskeletal disorders are commonly found.

6. Risk factors
• Advanced maternal age
• Consanguinity
• Maternal malnutrition especially folic acid
deficiency can lead to CNS defects

7. Etiology
• Genetic factors: The anomalies may be
related to chromosomal abnormalities, single
gene disorders or polygenic inheritance.
 Single gene disorders may be either
autosomal or X-linked inheritance which may
be dominant or recessive traits.
• Chromosomal abnormalities: The most
common is Down's syndrome or Trisomy 21

8. • Single gene disorders: They are found as
autosomal dominant inheritance, autosomal
recessive inheritance and X-linked
inheritance.
• Autosomal dominant traits: Huntington's
chorea, polydactyly, polycystic kidney,
retinoblastoma etc;
• Autosomal recessive traits: Cystic fibrosis,
microcephaly, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia,
phenylketonuria, Hirschsprung disease etc

9. • Environmental factors:
 Intra uterine infections especially by
STORCH (syphilis, Toxoplasmosis, Rubella,
Cytomegalovirus and Herpes virus)
Drug intake by the mother during pregnancy
like steroid hormones, anticonvulsants,
cocaine, lithium, thalidomide etc;

10.  X-ray exposure during pregnancy
 Maternal diseases like DM, cardiac failure,
malnutrition, folic acid deficiency, iodine
deficiency disorders, endocrine
abnormalities.

11.  Abnormal intra uterine environment like bicornuate
uterus, polyhydramnios, oligohydramnios, fetal
hypoxia etc;
 Maternal addiction with alcohol, tobacco or
smoking
 Environmental pollution, especially air pollution

12. Diagnostic approaches
• Prenatal diagnosis
 Amniocentesis in early pregnancy
 Chorionic villus sampling
 Estimation of maternal serum alpha fetoprotein
 Ultrasonography
 Fetoscopy
 Amniography
 Fetal blood sampling
 Radiography
 Antenatal screening of maternal disease

13. • Postnatal diagnosis
 Maternal and family history
 Thorough physical examination.
 Biochemical assay
 Cytogenic study
 Blood test
 Hormonal assay
 Radiography
 Ultrasonography

14. Common congenital anomalies
 CNS defects
 Congenital include- Anencephaly, spina bifida
occulta, spina bifida cystic (meningocele,
meningomyelocele, meningoencephalocele,
encephalocele), hydrocephalus, microcephaly.

15.  Congenital heart diseases
• ASD, VSD, PDA, Fallot's tetralogy, pulmonic
stenosis, aortic regurgitation, tricuspid
atresia, transposition of great vessels

16.  Gl system Abnormalities
• Tracheo-esophageal fistula, esophageal atresia, congenital
pyloric stenosis, duodenal atresia, meconium ileus, congenital
megacolon(Hirschsprung's disease), ano-rectal
malformations, umbilical hernia, diaphragmatic hernia,
congenital intestinal obstruction.

17.  Respiratory system
•Trachea esophageal fistula, congenital
atelectasis, congenital cyanosis,
congenital strider

18.  Genitourinary system
• Congenital hydro nephrosis, congenital
polycystic kidney, horse-shoe kidney,
posterior urethral valves, hypospadias,
epispadias, congenital phimosis, congenital
hydrocele, undescended testis, congenital
inguinal hernia, ambiguous genitalia,
malformations of reproductive organs.

19.  Musculoskeletal abnormalities:
•Club foot, talipes, congenital hip
dislocation, polydactyl, webbed fingers,
Phocomelia, congenital scoliosis,
muscular dystrophies

20.  Blood disorders:
•Thalassemia, hemophilia, sickle cell
anemia, congenital spherocytosis

21.  Metabolic disorders:
• Cystic fibrosis, phenylketonuria, congenital lactose
intolerance, glycogen storage diseases, Tay-Sachs
disease, Gaucher disease, Wilson's disease,
galactosemia

22.  Endocrinal abnormalities:
•Congenital hypopituitarism (dwarfism),
congenital hypothyroidism (cretinism),
congenital adreno-genital hyperplasia,
congenital goiter, DM.

23.  Chromosomal anomalies:
•Down's syndrome(Trisomy21), Patau's
syndrome (TRisomy-13), Edward's
syndrome (Trisomy-18), Turner
syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, cridu
chat syndrome

24.  Tracheoesophageal Fistula And Esophageal
Atresia.
 Tracheoesophageal fistula is a developmental anomaly
characterized by an abnormal connection between the
trachea and the esophagus and usually accompanies
esophageal atresia.
 Esophageal atresia is failure of the esophagus to form a
continuous passage from the pharynx to the stomach.

26. Signs and symptoms vary according to
location of fistula and atresia.
1) The infant appears to swallow normally but soon after
coughs, struggles, become cyanotic, and stops breathing.
2) Stomach distention may cause respiratory distress.
3) Air and gastric contents may reflux through the fistula into
the trachea resulting in chemical pneumonitis.
4) If there is esophageal atresia without a fistula, as
secretions fill the esophageal sac and overflow into the
oropharynx, the infant develops mucus in the oropharynx
and drools excessively.
5) Repeated episodes of pneumonitis, pulmonary infection
and abdominal distention may be present.

27. Diagnosis
1) Catheter passed through the nose meets an obstruction.
2) Chest x-ray.
3) Abdominal x-ray.
4) Cinefluorography.

28. Treatment
1) Tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia requires
surgical correction and are usually considered a surgical
emergency.
2) The type of surgical procedure and when it is performed
depends on the nature of the anomaly, the patient's general
condition, and the presence of coexisting congenital
defects.

29. Postoperative complications
1) Tracheoesophageal fistula: a) Recurrent
fistulas. b) Esophageal mobility dysfunction.
c) Esophageal stricture . d) Recurrent
bronchitis. e) Pneumothorax. f) Failure to
thrive.
2) Esophageal atresia: a) Impaired
esophageal motility. b) Hiatal hernia. c)
Reflux esophagitis.

30. Nursing interventions
1) Monitor respiratory status.
2) Perform pulmonary physiotherapy.
3) Suction as necessary.
4) Administer antibiotics and parenteral
fluids as ordered.
5) Observe for signs of complications
(that is pneumothorax).

31. 6) Maintain gastrostomy tube feedings.
7) Accurate I & O.
8) Give the baby a pacifier to satisfy his sucking
needs but only when he can safely handle
secretions.
9) Offer the parents support and guidance and
encourage bonding.
10)Positioning before and after surgery varies with the
doctor's philosophy and the child's anatomy.
a) Supine with his head low to facilitate
b) Head elevated to prevent aspiration.

32. Prevention of congenital anomalies:
• The preventive measures should include
the following aspects:
 Genetic counseling
 Reducing and discouraging
the consanguineous marriages
 Avoiding late marriages in females and
avoidance of pregnancy beyond the age of
35 years.

33.  Promotion of health of girl child and pre-pregnant
health status of the females by prevention of
malnutrition, anemia, folic acid deficiency, iodine
deficiency etc;
 Encouraging the immunization of all girl child by
MMR
 Elimination of active and passive smoking of
tobacco by mothers.
 Avoidance of drug intake without consulting
physician
 Prevention of intra uterine infections and
promotion of sexual hygiene

34.  Efficient antenatal care especially removal of
teratogens, prevention of malnutrition by adequate
diet.
 Promotion of therapeutic abortion of abnormal
fetus, Discouraging reproduction after birth of a
baby with congenital anomalies, without genetic
counseling.
 Increasing public awareness about the risk factors
and etiological factors of congenital anomalies
 Promotion of detection of genetic carriers
 Reducing the frequency of hereditary disease

35. Nursing responsibilities:
• Collection of detailed history of prenatal and post natal period
along with history of family illness.
• Provide necessary information to the parents and family
members
• Motivate the family members for genetic counseling and
referring to the genetic clinic

36. • Provide emotional support and answer questions asked by
the counselee.
• Guide the family for rehabilitation of the child and for
available social and economical support through social
welfare agencies.
• Promote public awareness about the prevention of
congenital anomalies by individual or group health education
or by mass media informations.