Overview Show
BackgroundTransposition of the great arteries (TGA) is the most common cyanotic congenital heart lesion that presents in neonates. The hallmark of transposition of the great arteries is ventriculoarterial discordance, in which the aorta arises from the morphologic right ventricle and the pulmonary artery arises from the morphologic left ventricle. See the image below.
 Although transposition of the great arteries was first described over 2 centuries ago, no treatment was available until the middle of the 20th century, with the development of surgical atrial septectomy in the 1950s and balloon atrial septostomy in the 1960s. These palliative therapies were followed by physiological procedures (atrial switch operation) and anatomic repair (arterial switch operation) (see the videos below). Today, the survival rate for infants with transposition of the great arteries is greater than 90%. This video shows the repair of a newborn with transposition of the great arteries and ventricular septal defect (VSD) by means of arterial switch and VSD closure. Procedure performed by Giles Peek MD, FRCS, CTh, FFICM, The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY. Video courtesy of Montefiore. Switch ventricular septal defect (VSD hypoplastic right arch). Procedure performed by Giles Peek MD, FRCS, CTh, FFICM, The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY. Video courtesy of Montefiore. The major anatomic classifications of transposition of the great arteries depend on the relationship of the great arteries to each other and/or the infundibular morphology. In approximately 60% of the patients, the aorta is anterior and to the right of the pulmonary artery (dextro-transposition of the great arteries [d-TGA]). However in a subset of patients, the aorta may be anterior and to the left of the pulmonary artery (levo-transposition of the great arteries [l-TGA]). In addition, most patients with transposition of the great arteries (regardless of the spacial orientation of the great arteries) have a subaortic infundibulum, an absence of subpulmonary infundibulum, and fibrous continuity between the mitral valve and the pulmonary valve. Despite these useful classifications, several exceptions are noted, and, hence, discordant ventriculoarterial connection is the only distinguishing characteristic that defines transposition of the great arteries. From a practical standpoint, the presence or absence of associated cardiac anomalies defines the clinical presentation and surgical management of a patient with transposition of the great arteries. The primary anatomic subtypes are (1) transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum, (2) transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect, (3) transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and (4) transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary vascular obstructive disease. In approximately one third of patients with transposition of the great arteries, the coronary artery anatomy is abnormal, with a left circumflex coronary arising from the right coronary artery (22%), a single right coronary artery (9.5%), a single left coronary artery (3%), or inverted origin of the coronary arteries (3%) representing the most common variants. PathophysiologyThe pulmonary and systemic circulations function in parallel, rather than in series. Oxygenated pulmonary venous blood returns to the left atrium and left ventricle but is recirculated to the pulmonary vascular bed via the abnormal pulmonary arterial connection to the left ventricle. Deoxygenated systemic venous blood returns to the right atrium and right ventricle where it is subsequently pumped to the systemic circulation, effectively bypassing the lungs. This parallel circulatory arrangement results in a deficient oxygen supply to the tissues and an excessive right and left ventricular workload. It is incompatible with prolonged survival unless mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood occurs at some anatomic level. The following are 3 common anatomic sites for mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in transposition of the great arteries:
One or all of these lesions can be present in concert with dextro-transposition of the great arteries, and the degree of arterial hypoxemia depends on the degree of anatomic mixing. EtiologyThe etiology for transposition of the great arteries is unknown and is presumed to be multifactorial. The embryology likely involves abnormal persistence of the subaortic conus with resorption or underdevelopment of the subpulmonary conus (infundibulum). This abnormality aligns the aorta anterior and superior with the right ventricle during development. EpidemiologyUnited States dataDespite its overall low prevalence, transposition of the great arteries is the most common etiology for cyanotic congenital heart disease in the newborn. [1] This lesion presents in 5-7% of all patients with congenital heart disease. The overall annual incidence is 20-30 per 100,000 live births, and inheritance is multifactorial. Transposition of the great arteries is isolated in 90% of patients and is rarely associated with syndromes or extracardiac malformations. This congenital heart defect is more common in infants of diabetic mothers. Race-, sex-, and age-related demographicsNo racial predilection is known, but transposition of the great arteries has a 60-70% male predominance. Patients with transposition of the great arteries usually present with cyanosis in the newborn period, but clinical manifestations and courses are influenced predominantly by the degree of intercirculatory mixing. PrognosisThe prognosis depends on the specific anatomic substrate and type of surgical therapy used (arterial switch operation, atrial switch operation, or Rastelli procedure). Overall, perioperative survival following arterial switch operation is greater than 90%. Long-term and arrhythmia-free survival is excellent (approximately 97% at 25 years), and late mortality is predominantly due to sudden death and myocardial infarction. [2] The overall mortality rate following an atrial level switch is low; however, long-term morbidity associated with systemic (right) ventricular dilatation and failure, systemic atrioventricular (tricuspid) valve regurgitation, and atrial bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias is significant. A subset of patients may experience profound right ventricular failure, but they may do well with left ventricular retraining and late arterial switch. [3] After arterial switch operation, sequelae may include chronotropic incompetence and stenosis at the supravalve neoaortic, neopulmonary, branch pulmonary arteries, and coronary artery ostia. However, most patients maintain normal systolic function and exercise capacity. [2] Progressive neoaortic root dilation is common and is a risk factor for neoaortic valve regurgitation following arterial switch operation. Continued surveillance of this population is required. [4] Morbidity/mortalityThe mortality rate in untreated patients is approximately 30% in the first week, 50% in the first month, and 90% by the end of the first year. Long-term complications are secondary to prolonged cyanosis and include polycythemia and hyperviscosity syndrome. These patients may develop headache, decreased exercise tolerance, and stroke. Thrombocytopenia is common in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease leading to bleeding complications. With improved diagnostic, medical, and surgical techniques, the overall short-term and midterm survival rate exceeds 90%. Patients with a large ventricular septal defect, a patent ductus arteriosus, or both may have an early predilection for congestive heart failure, as pulmonary vascular resistance falls with increasing age. Heart failure may be mitigated in those patients with left ventricular outflow tract (pulmonary) stenosis. Arterioplasty in patients with supravalve pulmonary or pulmonary artery branch stenosis following arterial switch surgery may be an effective and durable management option in the immediate term. [5] In a retrospective study (2004-2013) comprising 223 patients who underwent arterial switch for transposition of the great arteries, 38 patients (16%) developed supravalve pulmonary stenosis within 12.5 months. The surgical morbidity (eg, main pulmonary artery plasty) was 13%, without hospital or late mortality. At the 41.2 months postsurgical follow-up, all the patients had New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional grade 0 or 1 symptoms. [5] Cardiac catheterization and endovascular stenting of the branch pulmonary arteries is an alternative in older patients versus cardiac surgery. A retrospective study (1995-2016) that evaluated midterm outcomes in 97 patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries who underwent different management strategies reported similar transplant-free survival in those who underwent a systemic right ventricle (93%), anatomic repair (86%), and Fontan procedure (100%) (there was a 79% transplant-free survival for pulmonary artery band or shunt) (P = 0.33). [6] Multivariate analysis demonstrated systemic right ventricular dysfunction as a risk factor for death or transplantation. A small percentage (approximately 5%) of patients with transposition of the great arteries (and often a ventricular septal defect) develop accelerated pulmonary vascular obstructive disease and progressive cyanosis despite surgical repair or palliation. Long-term survival in this subgroup is particularly poor. ComplicationsComplications include the following:
Rare cases of supravalvular aortic stenosis as a late complication of transposition of the great arteries have been reported. [7] Patient EducationFamily members should learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Educate family members about congenital heart disease. Obtain genetics counseling for future pregnancy, despite the relatively low risk of recurrence. For patient education resources, see the Heart Health Center, as well as Tetralogy of Fallot.
Author John R Charpie, MD, PhD Professor and Director, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical Center John R Charpie, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, Society for Pediatric Research Disclosure: Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant or trustee for: Sorin Group, USA. Coauthor(s) Specialty Editor Board Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Ameeta Martin, MD Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Nebraska College of Medicine Ameeta Martin, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Cardiology Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Chief Editor Howard S Weber, MD, FSCAI Professor of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Cardiology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine; Director of Interventional Pediatric Cardiology, Penn State Hershey Children's Hospital Howard S Weber, MD, FSCAI is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions Disclosure: Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Abbott Medical . Additional Contributors Charles I Berul, MD Professor of Pediatrics and Integrative Systems Biology, George Washington University School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Cardiology, Children's National Medical Center Charles I Berul, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, Heart Rhythm Society, Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society, Society for Pediatric Research Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. Can a child survive transposition of the great arteries?Decades ago, children with TGA rarely survived past infancy. Today, with the open heart surgery required for children with this heart defect, nearly all children with TGA survive. The surgery, known as the “arterial switch” operation, moves the blood vessels to the correct positions.
What is the survival rate of transposition of the great arteries?Untreated, over 50 percent of infants with transposition will die in the first month of life. Ninety percent will die in the first year.
How long can a baby live with transposition of the great arteries?Untreated, more than 50% of infants with transposition will die in the first month of life, 90 % in the first year.
What does transposition of the great arteries cause?Complete transposition of the great arteries, also called dextro-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA), causes a shortage of oxygen-rich blood to the body. Symptoms are usually noticed during pregnancy, immediately after birth or within a few weeks of birth.
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