Cyanosis / Blue baby ( Cardiovascular disorders) | Chapter Circulation video 15

CYANOSIS Cyanos- Bluish color Osis- condition Definition It is a congenital heart defect in which the baby’s body colour become bluish due to increase of deoxygenated blood. Causes Conditions is congenital (by birth) After birth the foramen ovale does not close. • The foramen ovale (foh-RAY-mun oh-VAY-lee) is a small hole located in the septum, which is the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart (atria). Before a baby is born, it does not use its lungs to get blood rich in oxygen. Instead, this blood comes from the mother’s placenta and is delivered through the umbilical cord. The foramen ovale makes it possible for the blood to go from the veins to the right side of the fetus’ heart, and then directly to the left side of the heart. The foramen ovale normally closes as blood pressure rises in the left side of the heart after birth. Once it is closed, the blood flows to the lungs to get oxygen before it enters the left side of the heart and gets pumped to the rest of the body. If the foramen ovale left open after birth then the mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood occurs and the ratio of deoxygenated blood starts increasing in body. High levels of deoxygenated haemoglobin within the superficial vessels of the skin cause this bluish appearance. Cyanosis is most pronounced where the overlying epidermis is thin, and the area has a rich network of blood vessels. When the amount of reduced haemoglobin exceeds 5 gm% in the capillaries, the blood appears dark, giving the tissues a bluish hue. Symptoms • Bluish skin (cyanosis) or grayish skin. • Breathing difficulty. • Chest pain or other pain. • Dizziness, fainting, or heart palpitations. • Feeding problems or reduced appetite. • Fever, nausea, or vomiting. • Puffy eyes or face. • Tiredness all the time. • Death can occur