Truncus Arteriosus: Facts and Resources About the Rare Congenital Heart Defect

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A rare kind of a congenital heart defect is truncus arteriosus. It only appears only in fewer than one out of every 10,000 births. It comprises one percent out of all cases of congenital heart disease. Newborns are meant to have two blood vessels (aorta and pulmonary artery) coming out of the right and left ventricular, which are separated from each other. Circulation of the heart normally involves the aorta progresses out of the left ventricle and the pulmonary artery comes out of the right ventricular. Furthermore, the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle come out of the aorta just above the valve at the entrance of the aorta. In contrast, truncus arteriosus consists one artery arising out of both ventricles. In most cases, a large hold exists on the upper portion of the wall between the two chambers. This is known as ventricular septal defect.

Without a distinguished blood vessel for both the left and right ventricle to pump blood into, the mixing of blue (without oxygen) and red (oxygen-rich) blood occurs. Some of the mixed blood proceed to the coronary arteries, some are directed to the lungs, and the rest goes to the body.

Inundation of Blood Flow Causing Congestive Heart Failure

There’s always the case of too much blood sent to the lungs, which can cause two conditions to happen if that is left untreated. A baby may have a difficult time to breathe as a result of extra fluid building up in and around the lungs as too much blood is circulated in them. Furthermore, inordinate blood flow causes congestive heart failure (CHF) develops during the initial or second week of life. The second problem is the life-threatening diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension. It involves the blood vessels attached to the lungs being irreversible damaged. As years pass by, it becomes very difficult for the heart to force blood to them.

Symptoms of congestive heart failure are grunting (very noisy breathing), nasal flaring, rapid breathing, restlessness, retraction, shortness of breath, and wheezing. Babies with facial swelling, neck vein distention, and poor feeding may be formed because of a backup of blood or systemic congestion. It can also cause the liver to become large. Babies with truncus arteriosus could experience bluish color of their skin (cyanosis) particularly around the mouth and nose. That along with quick breathing and meager feeding usually increase whenever the baby eats.

Development During Pregnancy

Truncus arteriosus starts to develop during the first eight weeks of pregnancy. First, the heart starts out as a hollow tube. Then throughout the first eight weeks of pregnancy, the great arteries, chambers, and the valves are shaped. When the single great vessel doesn’t completely separates, the aorta and the pulmonary artery are still connected with each other.

Genetic Link

Like other congenital heart defects, truncus arteriosus can be caused by a genetic link, either a gene has a defect, exposure to environmental pollution, or a chromosome abnormality. These will cause heart problems to happen more often in certain families. Sometimes the defect occurs infrequently (by chance), without any knowledge about the abnormality.

Medical Treatments for Truncus Arteriosus

Treatment for truncus arteriosus varies because doctors will determine which is the best based on many circumstances. The patient’s age, tolerance for specific medications, therapies, medications, or procedures, medical history, and overall health are important to help the medical professionals decide on which specific treatment to undertake. There are other variables to take into consideration: the extent of the condition, expectations for the progression of the condition, and certainly need the baby’s parents’ preference and/or opinion.

A surgical repair must be done to resolve the truncus arteriosus. As the doctors wait for the day of the surgery, other medical assistance may be provided. Possible treatments could be taking medications to assist the heart and lungs work better. Digoxin is one possible prescription drug to take to strengthen the heart muscle so it can pump efficiently.

Another prescription medication that can possibly be given to a patient are diuretics. They can assist the kidneys by removing plethora of fluid from the body. As the heart isn’t functioning as good as it could, the body’s water balance can be affected. ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors is another drug that might be prescribed. If and when doctors feel the blood vessels should be dilated to make it easier for the heart to pump blood.

Resources About Truncus Arteriosus

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Mayo Clinic

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Medline Plus – Trusted Health Information for You

UAB Medicine – Medicine that touches the world

Resource by S.Lee

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