Transposition of the Great Arteries

Description and Epidemiology

Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) is a cyanotic congenital heart defect in
which the aorta arises from the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery arises from
the left ventricle, creating two parallel circuits. The first circuit sends deoxygenated
systemic venous blood to the right atrium and then back to systemic circulation
through the right ventricle and aorta. The second circuit sends oxygenated
pulmonary venous blood to the left atrium, which then goes back to pulmonary
circulation via the left ventricle and pulmonary artery.
The prevalence of TGA is between 2.3-4.7 per 10,000 births. It accounts for about 3
percent of all congenital heart disease.
A video clip describing TGA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY11g3VZGVI&feature=player_embedded

Anatomy
The most common form of TGA is Dextro-TGA (D-TGA), in which the right ventricle
is to the right of the left ventricle and the aorta anterior to and to the right of the
pulmonary artery.

Diagram of D-TGA. Ao: aorta; LA: left atrium;

LV: left ventricle; PA: pulmonary artery; RA:
right atrium; RV: right ventricle Multimedia
Library of Congenital Heart Disease, Children's
Hospital, Boston, editor Robert Geggel MD,
www.childrenshospital.org/mml/cvp.

The presence of D-TGA and no other cardiac abnormalities is referred to as simple

TGA. The presence of other cardiac abnormalities in addition to D-TGA is referred to
as complex TGA.
-

About 50% of patients with TGA also have a ventricular septum defect (VSD).

Patients with TGA and VSD are more likely to have other defects like
pulmonary stenosis or atresia, overriding or straddling of an atrioventricular valve, or coarctation of the aorta.

Obstruction of the left ventricular out flow tract is present in 25% of patients.
This can be dynamic, where increased blood volume in the right ventricle
causes bowing of the interventricular septum, or anatomical, involving
pulmonary stenosis or atresia.

There is abnormal coronary artery anatomy in one third of patients with DTGA. Variations include vessels with an abnormal epicardial course, multiple
coronary ostia (roots) arising from the same sinus of Valsalva, or an
intramural coronary artery passing between the two great vessels. It is
important to delineate coronary artery anatomy before surgical intervention
because it can impact the surgical approach and procedure.

Levo-Transposition of the Great Arteries (L-TGA), occasionally referred to as

congenitally corrected-TGA, describes an anatomical abnormality in which the
morphological left ventricle is on the right side of the heart. Deoxygenated systemic
blood enters the right atrium, goes through the morphologic left ventricle, and
enters the pulmonary circulation via the pulmonary artery. Oxygenated blood from
the pulmonary circulation then enters the left atrium, goes through the morphologic
right ventricle and enters systemic circulation via the aorta.

Diagram of L-TGA. Heart Center, Nationwide Childrens Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.

http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/congenitally-corrected-transposition-greatvessels

Although L-TGA frequently presents with other anatomical cardiac defects,

individuals with simple L-TGA are generally asymptomatic and do not require

surgical intervention. Since each ventricle is designed to handle different blood

volumes, the right ventricle may eventually hypertrophy, leading to symptoms of
dyspnea and fatigue later in life. From this point, this article will only discuss D-TGA,
which will be referred to as TGA.

Embryology, Pathogenesis and Genetics

Although many of the specific developmental aspects of TGA have not been
elucidated, TGA is thought to arise from abnormal growth and development of the
bilateral subarterial conus. Normally, the subpulmonic and subaortic conus are
present in the first month of gestation above the right ventricle. The subaortic conus
is resorbed between days 30-34 of gestation, allowing the aortic valve to migrate to
its normal position above the left ventricle. The subpulmonic conus persists,
allowing the pulmonic valve to stay in its position above the right ventricle.
In TGA, the subpulmonic conus is resorbed instead of the subaortic conus. This
causes the pulmonary valve to migrate to a position above the left ventricle, while
the aortic valve is forced anteriorly and associates with the right ventricle.
TGA, unlike many other congenital heart defects, is not associated with any one
common genetic abnormality. TGA rarely occurs in other members of the family and
the incidence in siblings is no higher than that of the general population. Less than
10% of cases of TGA have associated to non-cardiac anomalies, which is less
frequent than other CHD defects. As a result, genetic testing and family screening
are not warranted for children with TGA.

Physiology
TGA is well tolerated by the fetus in-utero. Oxygen-rich blood enters through the
umbilical vein and passes from the right atrium to the left atrium through the fossa
ovalis. From the left heart circulation, oxygenated blood then flows into the
pulmonary artery and enters the systemic circulation via the ductus arteriosis (DA).
The high pressure of the pulmonary capillary beds allows a right to left shunt across
the ductus into the descending aorta. Since most blood is not pumped through the
ascending aorta, oxygenation of the head and neck can be impaired even in utero.
After delivery, the degree of cyanosis and stability of the infant depends on the
volume of blood mixing between the two parallel circulations. There must be some
delivery of oxygenated blood to systemic circulation for compatibility with life.
Mixing occurs most efficiently at the level of the atria across the fossa ovalis due to
the lower pressure gradient between the two chambers; the large pressure
gradients present at VSDs and the DA limit mixing between the two circulations.

Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis

TGA is one of the more difficult cardiac abnormalities to diagnose by fetal

ultrasound. As a result, most cases are diagnosed after delivery. The typical
ultrasound screening focuses on a four-chamber view of the heart, so TGA is often
missed due to an absence of ventricular size discrepancy. Accuracy is improved by
visualization of the great arteries and evaluation of whether they cross normally or
not.
Most patients with TGA present within the first 30 days of life. The most commonly
observed symptoms on physical exam are cyanosis, tachypnea, and cardiac murmur.
- The degree of cyanosis depends on the volume of mixing between the two
circulations: patients with a medium to large-size VSD will typically be less
cyanotic than those with an intact septum or small VSD. Cyanosis is not
affected by exertion or supplemental oxygen.
-

Most patients will have a respiratory rate greater than 60, but usually will
not show other signs of respiratory distress like flaring, grunting or
retractions. Patients with a large VSD can present with signs of respiratory
distress by the 3rd or 4th week due to heart failure.

Murmurs are only present in patients with a VSD or outflow tract

obstruction. A VSD will present with a holosystolic murmur, while an outflow
tract obstruction may have a systolic ejection murmur at the upper left
sternal border.

Up to 5% of patients will have diminished femoral pulses secondary to

coarctation or interruption of the aortic arch.

Postnatal diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion of cyanotic congenital heart

disease and is confirmed with echocardiography (Echo). Electrocardiography (ECG)
is typically normal. Chest x-rays (CXR) can show a normal cardiac silhouette,
although the classic CXR presentation features a heart with an egg on a string
appearance.
Most patients who do not receive treatment die within the first year of life.

Treatment
Initial management of TGA focuses on stabilization of cardiac and pulmonary
function. Patients with suspected or confirmed TGA are started on an IV infusion of
prostaglandin E1 (alprostadil) to maintain a patent DA and may undergo Balloon
Atrial Septostomy (BAS). Side effects of prostaglandin include apnea and
hypotension secondary to vasodilation, which can be managed with intubation and
volume expansion with normal saline.

BAS uses cardiac balloon catheterization via the umbilical vein or femoral artery. A
balloon is inflated in the left atrium across the atrial septum. It is then vigorously
pulled across the septum at least once until circulatory mixing is adequate for
systemic oxygenation.
A video clip illustrating BAS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hioh3YRDwA&feature=player_embedded
Most patients are referred for surgical between day 3-5 of life. Delay of surgical
treatment after 30 days of life can result in myocardial deconditioning. Patients with
TGA undergo Arterial Switch Operation (ASO). Patients with TGA and a small VSD
undergo ASO and VSD repair.
-

ASO: both great arteries are transected and translocated to the opposite root.
The coronary arteries are replanted at the neo-aortic root.
Video clip illustrating ASO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYEo5z0hajM&feature=player_embedde
d

Follow-Up
Patients must be followed by a cardiologist with expertise in congenital heart
disease for the rest of their lives. They must assess for arrhythmias, coronary artery
insufficiency or stenosis, neo-aortic root dilation or regurgitation, pulmonary
stenosis, and ventricular function. Patients with ASO may be more likely to develop
atherosclerotic disease in the coronary arteries, so their cholesterol and triglyceride
levels should be monitored.

Prognosis
Survival rates for patients with TGA following surgical correction are excellent,
greater than 90% have 20-year survival. Since the ASO procedure was developed in
the 1980s, existing survival data for the procedure does not extend much farther
than 20 years.
Patients who have undergone ASO and have no residual defects, have a normal
exercise tests, normal ventricular function and no evidence of ventricular
tachyarrhythmias have no exercise restrictions and can participate in competitive
sports. Most patients have slightly reduced exercise capacity, but it does not
normally restrict daily activity.
However, case studies indicate that survivors after ASO are more likely to show
neurologic impairment, most likely due to perioperative processes like hypoxemia,
acidosis and hemodynamic instability.

References
1.

2.

3.

4.
5.

Fulton, David R; Kane, David A. Pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of Dtransposition of the great arteries. UptoDate Jan 19, 2011.
http://www.uptodate.com.proxy.uchicago.edu/contents/pathophysiology-clinicalmanifestations-and-diagnosis-of-d-transposition-of-the-greatarteries?source=search_result&search=transposition+of+the+great+arteries&selectedTitle=1~4
6#H2924629
Fulton, David R; Kane, David A. Management and outcome of D-transposition of the great
arteries. UptoDate Oct 18, 2011.
http://www.uptodate.com.proxy.uchicago.edu/contents/management-and-outcome-of-dtransposition-of-the-greatarteries?source=search_result&search=transposition+of+the+great+arteries&selectedTitle=2~4
6#H2923605
Wernovsky, Gil. Transposition of the Great Arteries. Cardiac Center, The Childrens Hospital of
Philadelphia, October 2008. http://www.chop.edu/service/cardiac-center/heartconditions/transposition-of-the-greatarteries.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=transposition+of+the+great+ar
teries&utm_campaign=CHOP+-+Cardiology+-+US+-+TGA&gclid=CL6I68gmrECFUS4KgodSUmtjQ
Levo-Transposition of the Great Arteries- Summary. Levine Childrens Hospital, Charlotte, NC.
http://www.levinechildrenshospital.org/body.cfm?id=390
Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries. Nationwide Childrens Hospital,
Columbus, OH. http://www.nationwidechildrens.org/congenitally-corrected-transpositiongreat-vessels