Cyanotic Heart Defects

Cyanotic heart defects are abnormal openings between the heart chambers that allow oxygen-poor blood from the right side of the heart to mix with oxygen-rich blood from the left side of the heart. When a large amount of oxygen-poor blood mixes with oxygen-rich blood, it causes a bluish tint (cyanosis) in the skin, lips, and nail beds.

Current as of: December 6, 2017

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & John Pope, MD, MPH - Pediatrics & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine & Larry A. Latson, MD - Pediatric Cardiology, Critical Care Medicine

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