Truncus Arteriosus Treatment

Truncus arteriosus is a rare congenital heart defect that is typically diagnosed shortly after birth. If your baby has been diagnosed with truncus arteriosus, understanding what this condition involves and how it’s treated can help you prepare for the next steps.

What is Truncus Arteriosus?
In a healthy heart, the pulmonary artery and the aorta are two separate vessels, each responsible for carrying blood to different parts of the body. However, in babies with truncus arteriosus, these two vessels fail to develop separately and instead form a single, large vessel. This leads to a mix of oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood circulating throughout the body, which can result in a lack of oxygen reaching vital organs.

Signs and Symptoms
Truncus arteriosus is usually detected soon after birth. One of the first signs is a bluish or grayish tint to the baby’s skin, lips, and nails, known as cyanosis, indicating that the baby’s blood isn’t getting enough oxygen. Other signs include difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, and poor feeding. During the initial examination, a healthcare provider may notice abnormal lung sounds, indicating fluid buildup, and a heart murmur, which is a whooshing sound caused by turbulent blood flow through the abnormal heart structure.

Diagnosis
If truncus arteriosus is suspected, further tests will be performed to confirm the diagnosis. These tests might include an echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to create a detailed image of the heart, showing the single vessel and the overall structure of the heart. Other tests, such as chest X-rays, electrocardiograms (ECGs), and oxygen saturation levels, might also be used to assess the baby’s condition.

Treatment
Truncus arteriosus is a serious condition that requires prompt surgical intervention. The goal of surgery is to create two separate pathways for the blood: one to carry oxygen-poor blood to the lungs and another to carry oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body. This usually involves placing a patch to close any abnormal connections and creating a new, separate pathway for the pulmonary artery.