Question

Describe Acrocyanosis and is this a normal finding during the 1^st few hours of life?

Answer 1

Acrocyanosis is a condition that causes the hands and feet to turn blue. The main cause of this is the constriction of the tiny arteries at the ends of the arms and legs.The blue color comes from the decrease in blood flow and oxygen moving through the narrowed vessels to your extremities.Acrocyanosis is common in newborns. Most other cases occur in teens and young adults. In newborns, it is common in the first few hours of life.

There are two types of acrocyanosis, primary and secondary:

• Primary acrocyanosis is associated with cold temperature and emotional stress. It’s not considered harmful.
• Secondary acrocyanosis is associated with many different underlying diseases, including eating disorders, psychiatric illnesses, and cancer.

Primary acrocyanosis in newborns occurs because blood and oxygen are flowing to the brain, lungs, kidney, and other important parts of the body first—not the hands and feet. Newborns who have bluish colored hands and feet will improve within the first few hours once the body gets used to the new blood circulation pattern.