Hypoxia in the term newborn: part one-cardiopulmonary physiology and assessment

Diagnostic considerations in infants and children with cyanosis

Cyanosis is defined by bluish discoloration of the skin and mucosa. It is a clinical manifestation of desaturation of arterial or capillary blood and may indicate serious hemodynamic abnormality. The goal of this article is to help the reader understand the etiology and pathophysiology of cyanosis and to formulate an approach to its differential diagnosis.