Truncus Arteriosus Repair Surgery
Truncus arteriosus (TA) is a congenital heart defect in which a common arterial trunk supplies systemic, pulmonary and coronary circulation. Associated cardiac anomalies are common.
Truncus arteriosus is treated with surgery to repair the heart defect. Surgery is usually performed in the neonatal period (1-2 weeks after birth).
The ventricular septal defect (hole between the right and left ventricles in the wall) is covered with a patch during surgery. The top portion of the pulmonary artery is isolated from the normal single artery (truncus arteriosus). So a tube or conduit and a valve are inserted to connect the pulmonary artery to the right ventricle of the heart. The single large vessel is reconstructed to create a new aorta. The surgeon might also repair the truncal valve, if necessary.
