Counsel parents given a new diagnosis of transposition — OSCE

OSCE communication station: breaking the news of a duct-dependent cyanotic congenital heart diagnosis (transposition of the great arteries) in a stable, prostaglandin-infused neonate, explaining the parallel-circulation problem and the surgical plan in plain language, addressing fear honestly while building a shared plan, and outlining the path to a near-normal life after arterial switch repair.

osce communication and shared decision-making2 min readVerification in progress

Prompt

The parents of a two-day-old infant, just told that their baby has transposition of the great arteries after presenting with cyanosis, are frightened and tearful. The baby is stable on a prostaglandin infusion and an echocardiogram has confirmed simple transposition with an intact septum and a planned arterial switch within the week. The parents have been told their baby will need 'open-heart surgery' and they are visibly distressed, believing their child will be disabled or will not survive. Counsel them.

Candidate brief

You have eight minutes to counsel the parents of a two-day-old infant with a new diagnosis of transposition of the great arteries, confirmed on echocardiogram, with the baby stable on a prostaglandin infusion and an arterial switch planned within the week. Use a structured, honest, empathic approach that names the problem in plain language and builds a shared plan. [1] [2]

Paediatrics Fellowship Pro

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References4Show ledger

[1]Carter E; Rogers LS Transposition of the great arteries: anatomy, physiology and surgical outcomes today. Curr Opin Pediatr, 2025.PMID 40820908
[2]Martins P; Castela E Transposition of the great arteries. Orphanet J Rare Dis, 2008.PMID 18851735
[4]Moe TG; Bardo DME Long-term Outcomes of the Arterial Switch Operation for d-Transposition of the Great Arteries. Prog Cardiovasc Dis, 2018.PMID 30227186
[12]Devlin PJ; Jegatheeswaran A; Williams WG; et al Late Survival and Patient-Perceived Health Status of the Congenital Heart Surgeons' Society dextro-Transposition of the Great Arteries Cohort. Ann Thorac Surg, 2019.PMID 31348901