Cyanotic Newborn Heart Disease

Cyanotic heart disease is a congenital heart defect that causes abnormal blood flow around the heart and lungs. It can result from one or more of over 10 defects of the heart.

Heart Defects

• Some of the many heart defects that may cause cyanosis are tetralogy of Fallot, truncus arteriosis, tricuspid atresia, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, transposition of the great vessels and total anomalous pulmonary venous return.

Cause

• The defects that cause cyanotic heart disease may result from drug use, chemical exposure or infection during pregnancy, according to Medline Plus.

Symptoms

• Newborns with this condition may have bluish skin, especially on the fingers, lips and toes, due to lack of oxygen. Babies may also experience breathing troubles.

Diagnosis

• Doctors can identify cyanotic heart disease and the underlying defect by listening to the heart and lungs and performing any number of diagnostic tests including MRI, echocardiogram and X-ray.

Outlook

• Treatment for the condition often involves surgical repair for the heart defect; prognosis and follow-up care depend entirely on the severity of the defect and the outcome of surgery.