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Cardiopatía cianótica - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Derivación cardíaca de derecha a izquierda; Derivación circulatoria de derecha a izquierda

Definición:

La cardiopatía cianótica es un defecto cardíaco, presente al nacer (congénito), que ocasiona niveles bajos de oxígeno en la sangre. Puede haber más de un defecto.

Causas:

Normalmente la sangre retorna del cuerpo y fluye a través del corazón y los pulmones. Luego, saldrá del corazón con suficiente oxígeno para irrigar los tejidos corporales.

Los defectos cardíacos pueden cambiar la forma como la sangre fluye alrededor del corazón y los pulmones. Este flujo anormal de sangre, llamado shunt o derivación de derecha a izquierda, puede provocar que se transporte muy poco oxígeno a través de la sangre al resto del cuerpo.

La cardiopatía cianótica hace que la piel del bebé se ponga azul (cianosis). Dicha coloración azulosa se observa con mayor frecuencia en los labios, los dedos de las manos y los pies o durante el ejercicio. Algunos defectos cardíacos ocasionan problemas mayores inmediatamente después del nacimiento; otros causan pocos problemas, si es que se presentan, hasta la adultez.

Los defectos cardíacos congénitos que pueden causar cianosis comprenden:

Las cardiopatías cianóticas pueden ser causadas por:

La cianosis también puede ser causada por afecciones distintas a cardiopatía congénita. Tales afecciones pueden abarcar neumopatía, formas anormales de hemoglobina (la proteína que lleva el oxígeno a través de la sangre), deshidratación e hipoglucemia.

  • Reviewed last on: 10/12/2009
  • Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Outcomes Research, Watertown, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Webb GD, Smallhorn JF, Therrien J, Redington AN. Congenital heart disease. In: Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, 8th ed. St. Louis, Mo; WB Saunders; 2007:chap 61.

Cyanotic congenital heart disease: Evaluation of the critically ill neonate with cyanosis and respiratory distress. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2007:chap 429.

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