right to left cardiac shunts

Last reviewed 01/2018

Congenital cardiac disease with cyanosis implies that cyanosis is a major feature at presentation.

They are disorders where the shunt is right to left. These conditions are uncommon, especially in adults, since there is a high mortality if corrective cardiac surgery is not undertaken.

There are many examples of cyanotic congenital heart disease. More well known include:

  • Fallot's tetralogy
  • pulmonary stenosis
  • Eisenmenger's syndrome
  • transposition of the great vessels
  • total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage
  • tricuspid atresia
  • pulmonary atresia

Clubbing of the fingers and toes is associated with cyanotic congenital heart disease - it does not appear until approximately 3 months of age. Clubbing appears first in the thumb (1).

Reference:

  • Radley-Smith RC (1993).Physical signs of congenital heart lesions. Medicine International, 21(12), 467-73