Cyanotic heart disease
Cyanotic heart disease (pronounced: sigh-uh-NAH-tik heart disease) is a group of many different heart defects that are present at birth (congenital). They result in a low oxygen level in the blood due to a mixing of oxygen-rich (red) blood and oxygen-poor (blue) blood. This leads to a blue discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, a condition known as cyanosis.
Etymology
The term "Cyanotic" is derived from the Greek word "kyanos" meaning dark blue, and "otic" from the Greek "otikos" pertaining to. The term "heart disease" is from the Old English "heorte" for heart and the Latin "dis-" meaning "lack of" and "-ease" from the Old French "aise" meaning comfort.
Types of Cyanotic Heart Disease
There are several types of cyanotic heart disease, including:
- Tetralogy of Fallot: This is the most common type of cyanotic heart disease. It is characterized by four defects in the heart and its blood vessels.
- Transposition of the great arteries: In this condition, the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed.
- Tricuspid atresia: In this condition, one of the valves between the heart's upper and lower right chambers isn't formed. Instead, there's solid tissue between the chambers.
- Total anomalous pulmonary venous return: In this condition, the veins bringing blood back from the lungs to the heart are improperly connected.
- Truncus arteriosus: In this condition, the body and lungs are served by a single common vessel instead of the normal two vessels.
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome: The left side of the heart is critically underdeveloped.
Symptoms
Symptoms of cyanotic heart disease may include:
- Cyanosis: A bluish color of the skin, lips, and nails.
- Dyspnea: Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
- Clubbing: An abnormal shape of the fingers and fingernails.
- Polycythemia: An increase in the number of red blood cells.
Treatment
Treatment for cyanotic heart disease usually involves surgery to correct the heart defects. Medications may also be used to help manage symptoms.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cyanotic heart disease
- Wikipedia's article - Cyanotic heart disease
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