What it means
The two large arteries leaving the heart are switched: the aorta comes from the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery from the left. This makes two separate circuits, so blood low in oxygen goes back to the body. The baby survives only while blood can mix through openings such as the ductus arteriosus or a hole between the atria. Surgery to switch the arteries back (arterial switch) is usually done in the first weeks of life.
For the nurse
Before surgery, a drug (prostaglandin E1) is given IV to keep the ductus arteriosus open. Watch oxygen saturation, breathing and feeding closely, and support the parents, who face major surgery for their newborn.
At a glance
| Also written | TGA |
|---|
Related terms
cyanosis
A blue or gray color of the skin, lips or nail beds.
atrial septal defect
A hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart.