Normally, blood returns from the body and flows through the heart and lungs
Blood that is low in oxygen (blue blood) returns from the body to the right side of the heart. The right side of the heart then pumps the blood to the lungs, where it picks up more oxygen and becomes red. The oxygen-rich blood returns from the lungs to the left side of the heart. From there, it is pumped to the rest of the body.
Heart defects that children are born with can change the way blood flows through the heart and lungs. This abnormal blood flow is called shunting.
The blood that is pumped out to the body is lower in oxygen. Less oxygen delivered to the body can make the skin look blue (cyanosis)
Many of these heart defects involve the heart valves. Heart valves are found between the heart and the large blood vessels that bring blood to and from the heart. These valves open up enough for blood to flow through. Then they close, keeping blood from flowing backward.
Heart valve defects that can cause cyanosis include:
Tricuspid valve (the valve between the two chambers on the right side of the heart) may be absent or unable to open wide enough. Pulmonary valve (the valve between the heart and the lungs) may be absent or unable to open wide enough. Aortic valve (the valve between the heart and the blood vessel to the rest of the body) is unable to open wide enough.
Other heart defects that may cause cyanosis include:
Coarctation or complete interruption of the aorta Ebstein's anomaly Hypoplastic left heart syndrome Tetralogy of Fallot Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection Transposition of the great arteries Truncus arteriosus
Cyanotic heart diseases may be caused by:
Chemical exposure Genetic and chromosomal syndromes, such as Down syndrome, trisomy 13, Turner syndrome, Marfan syndrome, and Noonan syndrome Infections (such as rubella) during pregnancy Poorly controlled blood sugar levels in women who have diabetes during pregnancy Medications prescribed by your doctor or bought on your own and used during pregnancy Street drugs used during pregnancy
What causes cyanotic congenital heart disease?
Normally, blood returns from the body and flows through the heart and lungs
Blood that is low in oxygen (blue blood) returns from the body to the right side of the heart. The right side of the heart then pumps the blood to the lungs, where it picks up more oxygen and becomes red. The oxygen-rich blood returns from the lungs to the left side of the heart. From there, it is pumped to the rest of the body.
Heart defects that children are born with can change the way blood flows through the heart and lungs. This abnormal blood flow is called shunting.
The blood that is pumped out to the body is lower in oxygen. Less oxygen delivered to the body can make the skin look blue (cyanosis)
Many of these heart defects involve the heart valves. Heart valves are found between the heart and the large blood vessels that bring blood to and from the heart. These valves open up enough for blood to flow through. Then they close, keeping blood from flowing backward.
Heart valve defects that can cause cyanosis include:
Tricuspid valve (the valve between the two chambers on the right side of the heart) may be absent or unable to open wide enough. Pulmonary valve (the valve between the heart and the lungs) may be absent or unable to open wide enough. Aortic valve (the valve between the heart and the blood vessel to the rest of the body) is unable to open wide enough.
Other heart defects that may cause cyanosis include:
Coarctation or complete interruption of the aorta {{NAME}}'s anomaly Hypoplastic left heart syndrome Tetralogy of {{ORGANIZATION}} anomalous pulmonary venous connection Transposition of the great arteries Truncus arteriosus
Cyanotic heart diseases may be caused by:
Chemical exposure Genetic and chromosomal syndromes, such as Down syndrome, trisomy 13, {{ORGANIZATION}} syndrome, Marfan syndrome, and {{NAME}} syndrome Infections (such as rubella) during pregnancy Poorly controlled blood sugar levels in women who have diabetes during pregnancy Medications prescribed by your doctor or bought on your own and used during pregnancy Street drugs used during pregnancy