Comparison of Acyanotic and Cyanotic Heart Disease
Feature Acyanotic Cyanotic
Shunting of blood

Cyanosis

Surgery Prognosis

Major types 		L—> R

Not usual (unless congestive heart failure)

Usually done in one stage—technically simple

Very good/excellent
  1. Atrial septal defect (ASD)
  2. Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
  3. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
  4. Coarctation of the aorta
R—>L

Always; “blue babies”

Usually done in several stages—technically complex

Guarded

  1. Tetralogy of Fallot
  2. Transposition of the great vessels


Tetralogy of Fallot. Four cardiac anomalies make up tetralogy of Fallot: a ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, an overriding aorta, and right ventricular hypertrophy. There are other associated defects in certain cases. Pulmonary stenosis results in reduction of pulmonary blood flow; the ventricular septal defect allows mixing of oxygenated and unoxygenated blood. (From Ashwill, JW, and Droske, SC: Nursing Care of Children: Principles and Practice. WB Saunders, Philadelphia, 1997.)