Cyanosis
Cyanosis is a medical problem. When a person has cyanosis, their skin and mucous membranes turn blue or purple. Cyanosis is a sign that the cyanotic (blue) parts of the body are not getting enough blood and oxygen.[1] This can happen because there is not enough oxygen in the blood. It can also happen when small blood vessels in the body get smaller because of a medical problem (this is called vasoconstriction).[1]
 Cyanosis of the fingertips and nail beds. | |
| ICD-10 | R23.0 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 782.5 |
| eMedicine | med/3002 |
Usually cyanosis is first seen in the extremities (the parts of the body that are farthest away from the heart). Usually the first parts of the body to become cyanotic are the fingertips (especially under the fingernails), the toes, the lips, the tip of the nose, and the earlobes.[2] As the body goes longer without oxygen, more of the body becomes cyanotic.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dugdale, David (2013-04-21). "Skin discoloration - bluish". National Institutes of Health. Retrieved 2015-01-03.
- ↑ Lippincott Manual of Nursing Practice Series: Assessment. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1 edition (2006) p.87
Cyanosis Media
A baby with a heart condition. Note purple nailbeds.
Child with congenital heart disease with central cyanosis that is worsened by measles. Note the bluish-purple discoloration of the fingernails, lips, eyelids, and nose, along with prominent nail clubbing.
Peripheral cyanosis in an individual with peripheral vascular disease.
This illustration depicts a self-induced local (tissue) hypoxia on the right hand (right side of the picture) versus a normal left hand (left side of the picture). The cyanosis was achieved by inflating and tightening the blood pressure cuff on the right arm.
An example of cyanosis in an individual with darker skin pigmentation. Note the pale purple (instead of the typical bluish-purple hue) nail beds. This patient also had prominent digital clubbing due to a congenital heart disease with right-to-left shunting (this patient had Tetralogy of Fallot).
An example of cyanosis in an elderly individual with darker skin pigmentation. Note the dark purple hue of the lips.
