The detailed history and physical examination are vital in determining the underlying cause of cyanosis. The diminished blood flow causes a blue discoloration of the fingers and toes.Ībout 98% of oxygen is normally bound to hemoglobin, with the remaining 2% dissolved in plasma. In the Raynaud phenomenon, abnormal vasospasm occurs with exposure to change in temperature and emotional events. It is not considered pathologic unless there is significantly low cardiac output leading to cutaneous vasoconstriction. Additionally, it can also be seen in infancy when babies cry, vomit, regurgitate, cough, hold their breath. It can be a normal finding in babies which resolves within the first few days of life. This results in cyanosis due to increased unloading of oxygen from the blood to the tissues.īenign vasomotor changes can cause acrocyanosis, a form of peripheral cyanosis. This redistribution of blood flow from extremities causes cyanosis of extremities.Įxposure to cold increases the transit time through capillary beds. Also, hypotension produces reflex cutaneous vasoconstriction to shunt blood from extremities to the internal organs. Lack of pressure prevents an adequate supply of oxygen-rich blood to the extremities.

Reduced cardiac output in heart failure and shock can lead to peripheral cyanosis, if severe. This results in a significant difference in the saturation between the arterial and venous blood, with increased deoxygenated blood on the venous side of the capillary beds. In peripheral cyanosis, there is normal arterial oxygen saturation but increased oxygen extraction by the peripheral tissue in the capillary bed in the setting of peripheral vasoconstriction and decreased peripheral blood flow. Ischemic peripheral cyanosis occurs when vasoconstriction leads to diminished peripheral blood flow. Congestive peripheral cyanosis can be caused due to the slowing of blood flow. Peripheral cyanosis occurs due to the inability of the body to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the peripheral tissues. Localized reduced blood flow: Peripheral vascular diseases such as Raynaud which can lead to peripheral vessel spasm (the lack of blood flow leads to the white coloration of fingers, followed by bluish discoloration when the veins dilate to keep the blood flow going, finally returning to red color on the restoration of blood flow)Īsphyxia: In this, there is both hypoxia as well as increased levels of carbon dioxide (hypercapnia)

Reason refill extractor viewer