Treatment for transposition of the great arteries

The treatment for transposition of the great arteries, which is when the baby is born with the heart arteries inverted, is not done during gestation, so after the birth of the baby, surgery is necessary to correct the defect.

However, to ensure that the newborn is better able to undergo surgery, the doctor uses a prostaglandin injection or inserts a catheter into the baby's heart to increase its oxygenation until it can be operated on, which usually occurs among the 7 days and the first month of life.

This malformation is not hereditary and is usually identified by the obstetrician, in the prenatal, during an ultrasound. However, it can also be diagnosed after birth, when the baby is born with a bluish coloration, which can indicate problems with oxygenation of the blood.

How is the recovery of the baby with transposition of the great arteries

After the surgery, which lasts about 8 hours, the baby has to stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 months to fully recover from the operation.

Despite this, the baby will be accompanied throughout the life by a cardiologist, who should advise on the type of physical activity that the child can do not to overload the heart and to evaluate the cardiac functioning during the growth.

How is the surgery for transposition of the great arteries

The surgery for transposition of the great arteries is based on the inversion of the position of the aorta and pulmonary artery, placing them in the correct position, so that the blood that passes through the lung and is oxygenated is distributed by the body of the baby, allowing the brain and all vital organs receive oxygen and the baby survives.

The surgery to correct this heart defect with which the baby was born is done under general anesthesia and the blood circulation is maintained by a machine that replaces the function of the heart during the surgery.

Surgery to reposition the large arteries leaves no sequelae and the baby's growth and development is not affected, allowing him to lead a normal life like any other child. So learn some techniques to stimulate baby development in: How to stimulate the baby.