A 4-Hour-Old Male Newborn Has Perioral Discoloration for the Past

A 4-hour-old male newborn has perioral discoloration for the past several minutes. Oxygen by nasal cannula does not improve the cyanosis. He was delivered by cesarean delivery at 37 weeks' gestation to a 38-year-old woman, gravida 3, para 2. Apgar scores were 8 and 9 at 1 and 5 minutes, respectively. Pulse oximetry shows an oxygen saturation of 85%. Cardiopulmonary examination shows a 2/6 holosystolic murmur along the lower left sternal border. The abdomen is soft and non-tender. Echocardiography shows pulmonary arteries arising from the posterior left ventricle, and the aorta rising anteriorly from the right ventricle. Definitive surgical correction of the main congenital abnormality is planned.  Pending definitive repair, which of the following temporary measures would be most likely to improve this patient's condition?

A) Ablating the sinoatrial node
B) Administering 100% oxygen
C) Administering digoxin
D) Enlarging the patent foramen ovale
E) Ligating the patent ductus arteriosus

Correct Answer:

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