Which of the following conditions are considered cyanotic congenital heart defects?

Cyanotic congenital heart defects are characterized by a decrease in oxygenated blood flow leading to cyanosis, which is a bluish discoloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen. Among the conditions listed, Tetralogy of Fallot and transposition of the great vessels are indeed categorized as cyanotic heart defects.

Tetralogy of Fallot comprises a combination of four heart defects that together result in oxygen-poor blood being pumped into the body, causing cyanosis. These defects include a ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, right ventricular hypertrophy, and an overriding aorta. This condition typically results in significant cyanosis, particularly during exertion or crying.

Transposition of the great vessels involves the aorta and pulmonary artery being switched, resulting in the systemic and pulmonary circulations being completely separate. Oxygen-rich blood returns to the left heart and is pumped back to the body, while oxygen-poor blood returns to the right heart and is recirculated back to the lungs without being oxygenated. This defect leads to severe cyanosis at birth and requires immediate medical intervention.

Understanding these conditions highlights why they are classified as cyanotic defects, as they both lead to reduced oxygenation of blood, which is not the case for the other