What is Cyanosis ?

Cyanosis: Cyanosis may be peripheral or central. Peripheral cyanosis almost exclusively involves lips and extremities. Normal neonates may have bluish extremities that respond to warming or moving the extremities. Saturations of 90 per cent or lower while breathing room air beyond the first 20 minutes are considered abnormal. Similarly, some infants may have peripheral cyanosis following exposure to cold. Central cyanosis involving the mucous membranes and trunk along with the lips and extremities, strongly suggests the likelihood of CHD. Unfortunately, however, cyanosis often remains unnoticed. This is particularly true in the Indian context, where it is difficult to detect cyailosis is presence of a dark skin complexion. Further, cyanosis is often masked by anaemia. When central cyanosis is suspected, its presence should be confirmed and severity quantified by measuring oxygen saturation using a skin oxymeter probe. Unfortunately, however, the availability of this instrument is limited to a few selected institutions.