Classify the following congenital cardiac defects as cyanotic defects or cyanotic defects.
Explanation & Rationale
Rationale: • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome is cyanotic because severe underdevelopment of the left heart structures leads to mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, causing systemic hypoxemia from birth. • Transposition of the Great Arteries is cyanotic as the aorta and pulmonary artery are switched, creating two separate circulations where oxygenated blood does not reach the systemic circulation without a shunt. • Atrial Septal Defect is acyanotic because it initially causes a left-to-right shunt, increasing pulmonary blood flow without significant desaturation until later complications develop. • Coarctation of the Aorta is acyanotic since it involves narrowing of the aorta, leading to obstruction of blood flow rather than abnormal mixing, so oxygen saturation typically remains normal. • Patent Ductus Arteriosus is acyanotic in early stages because blood flows from the higher-pressure aorta into the pulmonary artery, increasing pulmonary circulation without systemic desaturation. • Tetralogy of Fallot is cyanotic due to the combination of four defects, including right ventricular outflow obstruction, which forces deoxygenated blood into the systemic circulation.