Great Vessels Transposition, also known as Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), is a congenital heart defect characterized by an abnormal arrangement of the two main blood vessels that carry oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in the body. In a normal heart, the aorta arises from the left ventricle, while the pulmonary artery arises from the right ventricle. However, in TGA, these vessels are switched, leading to a circulatory system that does not allow for efficient oxygenation of the body's tissues.
In this condition, the aorta arises from the right ventricle, resulting in deoxygenated blood being pumped back to the body instead of oxygenated blood. Conversely, the pulmonary artery originates from the left ventricle, causing oxygenated blood to be pumped back to the lungs instead of being distributed to the body. This leads to a lack of oxygen supply to the body's vital organs.
TGA typically requires surgical intervention shortly after birth to correct the abnormal blood flow. This usually involves performing an arterial switch procedure, where the aorta and pulmonary artery are surgically reconnected to their appropriate ventricles. In some cases, a temporary procedure called the atrial switch operation (Mustard or Senning procedure) may be performed to redirect blood flow until the arterial switch can be done.
With timely and appropriate medical intervention, individuals with Great Vessels Transposition can lead relatively normal lives. However, long-term follow-up and regular monitoring are necessary to ensure proper heart function and prevent complications such as arrhythmias, heart failure, and other cardiac issues.
