Truncus Arteriosus

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Children with truncus arteriosus have only one artery originating from the heart and forming both the aorta and the pulmonary artery. The truncus arises above a ventricular septal defect or VSD (opening between the bottom two chambers of the heart) that is almost always associated with this defect. The truncus receives low-oxygen blood from the right ventricle and oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle. This mix of high and low-oxygen blood is sent out to the body and to the lungs. Open heart surgery in infancy is needed to correct this defect.

Surgical correction:  Involves closure of the VSD using a Dacron patch and removal of the pulmonary arteries from the truncus. The pulmonary arteries are then connected to the right ventricle with a valve from a donor. This valve needs to be replaced as the infant grows.