Transposition of the great vessels (TGA)

Transposition of the great vessels (TGA)

Arterial switch surgery is usually performed in the first 5-10 days of life. The operation is performed via a median sternotomy on the heart-lung machine. The pulmonary and aortic arteries are cut off above the valves and switched. The coronary vessels (coronaries) must also be transplanted into the "new" aorta. This connects the aorta to the left main chamber and the pulmonary artery to the right main chamber. In principle, the vast majority of patients are cured after an arterial switch operation. In the long term, constrictions can very rarely occur at the suture points and at the outlet of the coronary vessels. The constrictions at the sutures (supravalvular aortic or pulmonary stenosis) can usually be widened by balloon dilatation using a cardiac catheter intervention. As the coronary vessels are difficult to visualise with a cardiac ultrasound examination, a cardiac catheter examination is performed if a circulatory disorder is suspected. This allows the coronary vessels to be assessed in their entire course.