Persistent truncus arteriosus

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Persistent truncus arteriosus
Synonyms	Truncus arteriosus communis
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Cyanosis, heart failure, dyspnea, tachypnea
Complications	Pulmonary hypertension, heart failure
Onset	Neonatal
Duration	Lifelong without treatment
Types	N/A
Causes	Congenital heart defect
Risks	Genetic disorders, maternal diabetes, rubella infection during pregnancy
Diagnosis	Echocardiogram, chest X-ray, cardiac catheterization
Differential diagnosis	Tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Surgical repair, medications for heart failure
Medication	N/A
Prognosis	Poor without treatment, improved with surgical intervention
Frequency	Rare, approximately 1 in 10,000 live births
Deaths	High mortality without treatment

Diagram of truncus arteriosus

Gray's anatomy illustration of truncus arteriosus

Persistent truncus arteriosus (PTA) is a rare form of congenital heart disease that presents at birth. In this condition, instead of having separate vessels to carry blood from the heart to the lungs and the rest of the body, there is only one common blood vessel or truncus.

Signs and Symptoms

Infants with PTA often show signs of heart failure within the first few weeks of life. These can include rapid breathing, poor feeding, and failure to gain weight. Other symptoms may include a bluish coloration of the skin and lips (cyanosis), fatigue, and poor circulation.

Causes

PTA is caused by a defect in the development of the heart during the first 8 weeks of pregnancy. The exact cause is unknown, but it is thought to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of PTA is usually made shortly after birth, based on the infant's symptoms and a physical examination. This can be confirmed by echocardiography, which can show the single vessel coming out of the heart, and other associated heart defects.

Treatment

Treatment for PTA involves surgery to separate the single large vessel into two separate vessels, one for the lungs (pulmonary artery) and one for the body (aorta). This is usually done within the first few weeks of life. Medications may also be used to help manage symptoms before surgery.

Prognosis

With early diagnosis and treatment, the prognosis for children with PTA is generally good. However, they will need lifelong follow-up care with a cardiologist to monitor their heart function and manage any complications.

See Also

• Congenital heart disease
• Heart failure
• Cyanosis
• Echocardiography

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