Transposition of the great arteries is a serious but rare congenital heart defect in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed (transposed). The condition is also called dextro-transposition of the great arteries. A rarer type of this condition is called levo-transposition of the great arteries.Transposition of the great arteries changes the way blood circulates through the body, leaving a shortage of oxygen in blood flowing from the heart to the rest of the body. Without an adequate supply of oxygen-rich blood, the body can't function properly and the child faces serious complications or death without treatment.
Symptoms
- Blue color of the skin (cyanosis)
- Shortness of breath
- Lack of appetite
- Poor weight gain
Diagnosis
- Echocardiogram
- Cardiac catheterization
- Chest X-ray
- Electrocardiogram
Treatment
- Medication
- Atrial septostomy
- Surgery (Arterial switch operation, arterial switch operation, atrial switch operation )
