Usually presents immediately after birth with severe cyanosis that progresses rapidly to metabolic acidosis secondary to poor tissue oxygenation and a compensatory respiratory alkalosis Pulmonary venous congestion may develop rapidly.
Neonatal electrocardiogram is normal.
The diagnosis should be confirmed immediately by echocardiography. In infants with life-threatening hypoxemia, Prostaglandin E1 keeps ductus arteriosus open, leading to increased pulmonary blood flow, and temporary improvement in systemic oxygenation. Surgical repair by the Arterial Switch technique with coronary artery reimplantation is usually performed within the first 7 to 10 days of life before left ventricular atrophy has developed. Average life expectancy of a child with d-TGA with intact ventricular septum is 6 months without surgical correction. All rights reserved.