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A cyanotic heart defect is a group-type of congenital heart defects (CHDs). The patient appears blue (cyanotic), due to deoxygenated blood bypassing the lungs and entering the systemic circulation. This can be caused by right-to-left or bidirectional shunting, or malposition of the great arteries.
Cyanotic heart defects, which account for approximately 25% of all CHDs, include:
- Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF)
- Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)
- Transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA)
- Truncus arteriosus (Persistent)
- Tricuspid atresia
- Interrupted aortic arch
- Coarctation of aorta
- Pulmonary atresia (PA)
- Pulmonary stenosis (critical)
Non Cyanotic Heart Defects
Non cyanotic heart defects are more common because of higher survival. In these the shunt is initially from left (oxygenated) to right ( non oxygenated). These are
- Atrial septal defect
- Ventricular septal defect
- Patent ductus arteriosus and
- Coarctation of aorta (may cause cyanosis in some cases)
- Double outlet left/right ventricle
When the defect is long standing, pressure can build up in the pulmonary arteries and the shunt can reverse, thus leading to cyanosis. This is called Eisenmenger syndrome.
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