Tetralogy of Fallot Presenting as Severe Hypernatremic Dehydration: A Review of the Importance of Perinatal Care.

We present a case of a female American Indian neonate born via a provider unattended home delivery. Her mother received limited prenatal care and the infant was not examined by a healthcare provider until day of life 10 when she presented to the emergency department for evaluation of a skin rash. She was found to have severe hypernatremic dehydration. She was subsequently diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot, and this was the likely cause of her breastfeeding failure dehydration. The infant underwent careful correction of her electrolyte abnormalities and surgical repair of her cardiac defect on day of life 27. This case highlights the importance of comprehensive care during the prenatal and postpartum/newborn periods, especially in rural locations where access to care can be difficult.