Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA)
Transposition of the great vessels (TGA) is one of the congenital defects that appear at birth. In the normal situation of the great vessels connected to the heart's ventricles, it consists of connecting the aorta to the left ventricle, and the pulmonary artery to the right ventricle. The right part (right atrium, right ventricle) is called the right heart, containing deoxygenated blood. The left part (left atrium, left ventricle) is called the left heart, containing oxygenated blood, which requires pumping through the aorta to feed the body tissues. In the case of transposition of the great arteries disease, the opposite occurs, causing serious complications.
How is transposition of the great arteries treated?
- Medical Therapy: For newborns, maintaining the patency of the ductus arteriosus between the aorta and the pulmonary artery can be achieved through medical therapy. This allows a certain amount of oxygenated blood to be pumped to various parts of the body through the right ventricle, in cases where transposition of the great arteries is simple.
- Atrial Septostomy: In this procedure, the surgeon uses cardiac catheterization to increase the hole in the atrial septum, facilitating the delivery of oxygenated blood to different parts of the body through the right ventricle.
- Arterial Switch Operations: Surgical intervention and arterial switch can be resorted to. In case this procedure is not feasible, a corrective surgery for atrial switching can be performed, and in many cases, the condition of children improves.
How can transposition of the great arteries be prevented?
In the case of genetic defects, the likelihood of fetal injury is high. However, some unhealthy practices that lead to transposition of the great arteries can be avoided. Among the important tips during pregnancy: abstaining from smoking, drug use, or alcohol consumption. In case of medical conditions in pregnant women, such as hypertension or diabetes, these negatives can be overcome through drug treatments that do not affect the fetus.
