Truncus Arteriosus

Truncus arteriosus (TRUN-kus are-teer-e-OH-sus) is a congenital heart defect (heart condition that’s present at birth). A baby with truncus arteriosus has one large artery (instead of the usual two arteries) for blood to flow in and out of the heart. These babies also have a single truncal valve instead of two valves to control this blood flow.

Truncus arteriosus is a life-threatening condition. It requires surgery shortly after birth.

How does truncus arteriosus affect blood flow?

The heart and the arteries are part of the body’s circulatory system. A healthy heart should have a pulmonary artery (sends blue blood to the lungs) and an aorta (sends red blood to the body). A pulmonary valve and an aortic valve are two of the four valves that control blood flow through the heart.

Typically, blood flows from the right side of the heart through the pulmonary artery to the lungs to get oxygen. This oxygenated blood then flows to the left side of the heart and through the aorta to the rest of the body. Because a baby with truncus arteriosus only has one artery leading out of the heart, blood with and without oxygen mixes together.

Babies with truncus arteriosus also have ventricular septal defects (VSD). A VSD is a hole in the heart wall (septum) that separates the lower ventricles, or chambers, of the heart.

These two congenital heart defects allow too much blood to go into the lungs while not enough blood reaches the rest of the body. This forces the heart and lungs to work harder.

How common is truncus arteriosus?

Truncus arteriosus is a rare birth defect (congenital disability). It occurs in approximately 1 in 10,000 births and affects baby boys and girls equally. Healthcare providers diagnose about 250 babies with this heart condition every year.

What other heart conditions occur with truncus arteriosus?

Other heart conditions associated with truncus arteriosus include:

Atrial septal defect or ASD (hole in the heart wall separating the heart’s two upper chambers or atria).
Interrupted aortic arch (incomplete aorta).
Patent ductus arteriosus or PDA (abnormal connection between the aorta and pulmonary artery).

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

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