Actual management of complete transposition of the great arteries diagnosed prenatally

R. Bohîlțea, D. Tudorache, P.C. Pariza, A.M. Călin, V. Dima, M. Mitran, R. Vlădăreanu

Rezumat: Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a cyanotic congenital heart condition characterized by an atrioventricular concordance and a ventriculoarterial discordance, in which the aorta rises from the right ventricle while the pulmonary artery rises from the left ventricle. The transposition of the great arteries is commonly undiagnosed in utero, with less than half of the cases being detected and having an increased incidence in males than females. The transposition of the great arteries can sometimes be associated with a more complex genetic syndrome, such as DiGeorge syndrome, or can be an isolated condition. The transposition is not a life-threatening condition in utero due to the existence of the foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus which connect the two parallel circulation systems that are created by the condition. Adding the evaluation of the outflow tracks to the traditional four-chamber view increased the sensitivity of ultrasound screening by 2.5 times. The transposition of the great arteries can be surgically corrected after birth, with the best outcome possible if the surgery takes places in the first two weeks of life. The overall outcome for patients with transposition of the great arteries has improved in recent times due to the available surgical procedures and antenatal detection, with a good long-term survival, low morbidity and with excellent functional outcome.
Cuvinte cheie: transposition of the great arteries, ultrasonography, outflow track.