Causes of Cyanosis | |||
| Central Cyanosis | |||
| Decreased arterial oxygen saturation | |||
| Decreased atmospheric pressure-high altitude | |||
| Impaired pulmonary function | |||
| Alveolar hypoventilation | |||
| Inhomogeneity in pulmonary ventilation and perfusion (perfusion of hypoventilated alveoli) | |||
| Impaired oxygen diffusion | |||
| Anatomic shunts | |||
| Certain types of congenital heart disease | |||
| Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas | |||
| Multiple small intrapulmonary shunts | |||
| Hemoglobin with low affinity for oxygen | |||
| Hemoglobin abnormalities | |||
| Methemoglobinemia-hereditary, acquired | |||
| Sulfhemoglobinemia-acquired | |||
| Carboxyhemoglobinemia (not true cyanosis) | |||
| Peripheral Cyanosis | |||
| Reduced cardiac output | |||
| Cold exposure | |||
| Redistribution of blood flow from extremities | |||
| Arterial obstruction | |||
| Venous obstruction |