Truncus arteriosus

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Heart, section through the middle

Truncus

Surgery is needed to treat this condition. Two procedures are available: one is banding of the pulmonary arteries coming off the truncus; the other is complete repair. Complete repair appears to be the preferred option but as the child grows, repeat surgical procedures may be necessary.

Complete repair usually affords good results, although re-operation is sometimes necessary as the patient grows. Untreated cases have a poor outcome, usually leading to death between the first and second years of life. Sometimes the diagnosis is missed until early adulthood; these patients generally need a heart and a lung transplant.

• Heart failure
• Pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs)

Call your health care provider if your infant or child appears lethargic, does not eat well, appears excessively tired or mildly short of breath, or does not seem to be growing or developing normally.

If the child's skin, lips, or nail beds appear blue or if the child seems significantly short of breath, take the child to the emergency room or have the child examined promptly.

Review Date: 06/27/2006
Reviewed By: Anne J. L. Chun, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY.Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.