D-TGA

D-TGA

d-Transposition of the Great Arteries (d-TGA) is a congenital heart defect characterized by the abnormal development of the heart's great arteries. In d-TGA, the positions of the pulmonary artery and the aorta are switched (transposed). This means that the aorta arises from the right ventricle, and the pulmonary artery arises from the left ventricle, which is the opposite of the normal anatomy. This condition leads to the circulation of oxygen-poor blood throughout the body and oxygen-rich blood being circulated within the lungs, bypassing the body's systemic circulation, which can cause serious health issues immediately after birth.

Causes and Risk Factors

The exact cause of d-TGA is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Risk factors may include maternal diabetes, a family history of congenital heart defects, and certain genetic conditions.

Symptoms

Newborns with d-TGA often exhibit symptoms shortly after birth, including:

• Cyanosis (a bluish tint to the skin, lips, and fingernails)
• Difficulty breathing
• Poor feeding
• Lethargy

Diagnosis

d-TGA is typically diagnosed through prenatal ultrasound or shortly after birth through physical examination and the use of diagnostic imaging techniques such as:

• Echocardiography
• Cardiac MRI
• Chest X-ray

Treatment

The treatment for d-TGA usually involves surgery to correct the positions of the great arteries. The most common surgical procedure is the arterial switch operation (ASO), performed within the first few weeks of life. This operation switches the positions of the pulmonary artery and the aorta back to their normal locations and reattaches the coronary arteries to the aorta.

Prognosis

With early diagnosis and surgical treatment, most children with d-TGA can lead relatively normal lives, although they may require lifelong follow-up with a cardiologist. Complications can include arrhythmias, heart valve problems, and issues related to the coronary arteries.

See Also

• Congenital heart defect
• Arterial switch operation
• Cyanotic heart defect