There are two separatecirculation:
The aorta is connected to right ventriclereceiving deoxygenated blood
The pulmonary artery is connected to the leftventricle receiving oxygenated
blood from the lungs
These children are cyanosed and this defect isincompatible with life unless
there are separate defects to allow mixing ofblood (ASD, VSD or PDA)
Aetiology: Unknown
Symptoms: Cyanosis
Signs: Cyanosisat birth or presents with duct closure
Investigations: Antenatalultrasound: Antenatal diagnosis may be made
ECG: Often normal
Chest X-Ray: Classical ‘egg on its side’ appearance of the heart shadow
Echo: To assess for structural abnormality and confirmdiagnosis
Treatment: Medical: Resuscitation and prostaglandins keep the ductusarteriosus patent
Surgical: Balloon atrial septostomy isrequired to allow mixing of the blood.
Definitive treatment is arterial switch operation,which is carried out
in the first 2 weeks of life
Complications: Arrhythmias,heart failure and infective endocarditis
Prognosis: Conditionis fatal unless treated.
Figure 1.20 Transposition Of The Great Arteries
