In this congenital heart defect, the aorta (the main artery that carries blood to the body) originates from the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery (the artery that carries low-oxygen blood to the lungs) from the left ventricle. Because of this reversal, the aorta carries low-oxygen blood from the right ventricle to the body. The pulmonary artery carries oxygen-rich blood back to the lungs. In order for the infant born with transposition of the great arteries to survive, they must have some communication between the right and the left sides of the heart to allow-oxygen-rich blood to reach the body. This mixing of blood is possible through an ASD, VSD or PDA. Even though there is mixing of oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood, it is often not adequate to sustain life for an extended period of time. Babies with transposition are extremely blue at birth. The most common surgical procedure to correct this defect is called an arterial switch operation. That is, the major arteries are "switched". The aorta is connected to the left ventricle and the pulmonary artery is connected to the right ventricle. The ASD, VSD and/or PDA may also be needed to be corrected to restore normal blood flow.
TGA occurs in 5 to 7 percent of all congenital heart defects. Sixty to 70 percent of the infants born with the defect are boys.
TGA occurs in 5 to 7 percent of all congenital heart defects. Sixty to 70 percent of the infants born with the defect are boys.