CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL CYANOSIS

Course overview

PERIPHERAL CYANOSIS IS THE BLUISH DISCOLORATION OF THE DISTAL EXTREMITIES (HANDS, FINGERTIPS, TOES), AND CAN SOMETIMES INVOLVE CIRCUMORAL AND PERIORBITAL AREAS. MUCOUS MEMBRANES ARE GENERALLY NOT INVOLVED. PERIPHERAL CYANOSIS IS RARELY A LIFE-THREATENING MEDICAL EMERGENCY. HOWEVER, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO DETERMINE THE UNDERLYING CAUSE. ITS TIMELY MANAGEMENT IS CRUCIAL TO PREVENT POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS PERIPHERAL CYANOSIS AND OUTLINES ITS EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT. IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN MANAGING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.