Cyanosis

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Background

Definition

  • Faintly or frankly bluish or ashen discoloration typically of the nailbeds, lips, mouth, earlobes due to a high concentration of deoxygenated hemoglobin

Causes

Neonates / Infants

Adults

Clinical Features

Cyanotic neonate from cardiac pathology. Note purple nailbeds.
Cyanosis of the distal fingers in a patient with low oxygen saturation.
  • Faintly or frankly bluish or ashen discoloration typically of the nailbeds, lips, mouth, earlobes due to a high concentration of deoxygenated hemoglobin

Differential Diagnosis

Evaluation

Workup

Diagnosis

  • Subtypes
    • Acrocyanosis - cyanosis of the palms, soles, fingers and/or toes; it can be a normal finding due to, for instance, peripheral vasoconstriction due to cold or the result of pathology like peripheral vascular disease
    • Central cyanosis - cyanosis of the trunk, head, and/or mouth that is never normal

Management

Disposition

See Also

External Links

References

  1. Steinhorn RH. Evaluation and management of the cyanotic neonate. Clin Pediatr Emerg Med. 2008 Sep;9(3):169-175. doi: 10.1016/j.cpem.2008.06.006. PMID: 19727322; PMCID: PMC2598396
  2. Adeyinka A, Kondamudi NP. Cyanosis. [Updated 2021 Sep 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482247/