The nurse is assigned to care for an infant with tetralogy of Fallot. The mother of the infant calls ...

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Rationale: If a hypercyanotic episode occurs, the infant is placed in a knee-chest position. The knee-chest position is thought to increase pulmonary blood flow by increasing systemic vascular resistance. This position also improves systemic arterial oxygen saturation by decreasing venous return, so that smaller amounts of highly saturated blood reach the heart. Toddlers and children squat to obtain this position and relieve chronic hypoxia. Therefore Call a code, place the infant in a prone position, and contact the respiratory therapy department are incorrect.