Cyanotic Heart Disease
By: Robert NamTotal Views: 557, Word Count: 578,
A cyanotic heart disease is a congenital heart defect (Present from the birth). It affects the structure of the heart.
Cyanotic heart disease
Cyanotic heart disease occurs due to mixing of the pure oxygen rich blood with poor blood (Venous blood). Infants suffering from this disease usually have blue nail beds and lips due to the presence of deoxygenated blood in their body systems.
In cyanotic defect, a shunt bypasses the lungs and delivers the deoxygenated blood from right side of heart into the arterial circulation. Cyanotic heart defect is more complex as compared to the other defects. There are many types of cyanotic heart diseases such as:
- Tetralogy of fallot
- Truncus arteriosus
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
- Tricuspid atresia
- Transposition of the great vessels
Causes and Risk Factors of Cyanotic Heart Disease
The cause of the cyanotic heart disease is unknown because the heart gets completely developed before a person is born. Some of the risk factors behind cyanotic heart disease are:
1. Consumption of alcohol by mother during her pregnancy
2. An infection such as rubella , within the womb
3. Medicines and drugs(retinoic acid) taken by mother during her pregnancy
4. Chromosal abnormalities such as turner syndrome or Down syndrome.
Signs and Symptoms of the Cyanotic Heart Disease
Symptoms of the heart disease depend on the congenital heart disease. Children suffering from a cyanotic heart disease have a bluish skin, which is known as cyanosis. Other symptoms may include.
1. Abnormal breathing , either fast, slow or absent
2. Fatigue
3. Failure to grow properly
4. Nasal flaring due to increased effort when breathing
5. Decreased movement and response to stimulation
Exam and Tests for Cyanotic Heart Disease
Physical examination gives a valid description of cyanosis. Doctors use a stethoscope to listen to your heart and lungs. Doctor can easily hear abnormal sound or heart murmur or lung crackles while diagnosis.
Tests can vary according to the causes. It includes.
1. Chest X-ray
2. Echo-Doppler
3. Arterial blood gas
4. Transcutaneous oxygen monitor
5. ECG(Echocardiogram)
6. Complete blood count(CBC)
7. Nuclear imaging tests
8. Cardiac catheterization
9. Electro physiologic study
10. MRI of the heart
Treatment of Cyanotic Heart Disease
Treatment of cyanotic disease depends on the heart defect. Medication such as diuretics, prostaglandins, digoxin, and antiarrhythmics can be prescribed. The treatment for many congenital heart diseases is the surgery. Antibiotics may be prescribed before the surgical procedures in order to decrease this risk of defect.
There are many different types of surgeries depending on the severity of the condition. Person suffering from cyanotic heart diseases is at an increased risk of developing infection on heart wall or arteries.
Prevention of Cyanotic Heart Disease
Cyanotic heart diseases can be prevented by taking following certain care tips. It includes.
- Pregnant women should avoid drinking too much alcohol.
- Pregnant woman should make sure that all her vaccines and medicine are up to date. It will lower the risk of infection in the womb.
However, this disease is difficult to prevent but one can adopt preventive measures.
About the Author
Dr. Robert Nam is a well known heart specialist and has done postgraduate training in cardiology at the national heart hospital, the London chest hospital and UCL hospital, London. He was also engaged in research at the national heart and lung institute. Nowadays he is working as a consultant cardiologist at UCL hospital, London.
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