When blood passes through the between the atria instead of circulating throughout the body, a symptom known as cyanosis occurs. In a patient experiencing cyanosis, the lips and nailbeds take on a bluish color. This occurs because the blood that travels from the right to the left atrium is blue because it is deoxygentated. It has traveled throughout the body and is now returning to the lungs to be filled with oxygen again. In cases of severe PVS, symptoms like cyanosis will appear within the first few days of the infant’s life, and surgery will be immediately necessary.
If PVS is not as severe, it may be symptomless for several years. When the child is older, he or she might start to experience fatigue or shortness of breath, and the doctor may detect a heart murmur.
