Skip to main content

PEDIATRICS SERVICES

Diagnosis & Treatment

Truncus Arteriosus

Find a specialist

How is Truncus Arteriosus Diagnosed?

Diagnosis

Soon after a baby is born, a pediatrician performs an examination to detect any irregularities. This may include listening to the baby’s heart for irregular heartbeats, abnormal sounds caused by a heart murmur, and listening to the lungs to detect any fluid. After examining the baby, your doctor may use a fetal echocardiogram, an ultrasound that produces a detailed image of the baby’s heart, to confirm a diagnosis.
To provide a full assessment of the heart, a pediatric cardiologist along with a pediatric cardiac surgeon may conduct further testing to evaluate for signs of truncus arteriosus. Tests may include:  

  • Echocardiogram – This test reveals the structures and functions of the heart. Sound waves are used to produce images that can be viewed on a monitor. This test can show if there is a single large vessel leading from the heart, a hole in the wall dividing the left and right ventricle, or abnormalities in the valve separating the large vessel and the ventricles. This test can also measure the amount of blood flowing to the baby’s lungs, and if there is a risk for pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs).
  • X-ray – An X-ray uses low levels of radiation to produce images of internal organs and structures. This test can show if the heart is enlarged or if the lungs are filled with excess fluid.

How is Ttruncus Aarteriosus Ttreated?

Treatments

Infants born with truncus arteriosus must have surgery to correct the condition. Very often multiple surgeries will be required over the child’s life. People who have had surgeries to repair truncus arteriosus must continue to have regular cardiac checkups.

In addition to surgical repairs for truncus arteriosus, medications may also be prescribed to alleviate symptoms. Another treatment is called a cardiac catheterization, a minimally invasive procedure, which may replace the need for a more intricate surgical procedure.

Medications

  • Diuretics – This type of drug, sometimes called a water pill, is used to help the body eliminate excess fluid from collecting in the body; a common sign of heart failure disease is retention of fluids. Increased urination is a side effect of diuretics.
  • Inotropic agents – This medication may help to strengthen the heart muscle contractions.

Surgery

Surgery is usually performed on an infant with truncus arteriosus within the first few weeks of life. The procedure is based upon your child’s diagnosis and type of truncus arteriosus.

Common surgeries to treat truncus arteriosus include:

  • Patching the hole between the two ventricles to close the area.
  • Separating the upper section of the pulmonary artery from the single large vessel.
  • Implanting a tube and valve to connect the right ventricle with the upper portion of the pulmonary artery to create a new and separate pulmonary artery.
  • Reconstructing the single large vessel and aorta, to create a new, complete aorta.

People who have had surgery to correct truncus arteriosus require regular follow-up visits with a cardiologist to monitor their condition. Children may need to limit which types of sports they participate in, avoiding extremely physical, competitive sports. Antibiotics are prescribed before dental procedures or other surgical procedures to avoid infections that can affect the heart. Your child will need follow-up surgeries during their life to replace the valves as they grow.

Cardiac Catheterization

A cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive procedure that may be performed to in place of a more invasive heart surgery. Children outgrow the artificial valves previously used. A catheter is inserted into a blood vessel in the child’s leg and carefully moved up to the heart to replace a deteriorated valve. Cardiac catheterization is also used to open obstructed or narrowed arteries by inserting a balloon that is inflated to open the area. This procedure allows additional surgery to be postponed a little longer.

Pregnancy with Truncus Arteriosus

Women who received surgery to repair truncus arteriosus as infants should be evaluated by a cardiologist who is knowledgeable about congenital heart defects and a high-risk obstetrician specializing in women with this condition.

There are numerous decisions that need to be discussed prior to getting pregnant if you have been diagnosed with truncus arteriosus. Someone who has had this corrective surgery must take heart medication for their entire life. Some of these medications can be harmful to an unborn child. Lung damage is also a common problem prior to corrective surgery.

FAQs

FAQs

Without surgery, the median age for an infant is two weeks to three months with 85% mortality rate within one year. For children who receive the necessary corrective surgery, over 90% survive the surgery.. For people receiving the surgery, 97% were still surviving at 10 years, and 93% survival rate at 20 years and 40 years after the first operation.

There is no cure for truncus arteriosus, however, open heart surgery has proven to be a successful treatment for this condition. Surgery is required before a baby is two months old and additional surgeries will be necessary as they grow.

Familial recurrence risks for congenital heart malformations are estimated at around one to four percent. Very little is known regarding uncommon congenital heart conditions like truncus arteriosus. Before becoming pregnant, meet with a genetic counselor to discuss your family history of  congenital heart conditions.

Get Care

Trust NewYork-Presbyterian for Truncus Arteriosus Treatment

NewYork-Presbyterian’s Congenital Heart Center, a combined program of NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital, approaches childhood heart disease with a full range of care.

NewYork-Presbyterian is one of the first pediatric cardiology, pediatric heart surgery and heart transplant centers in the country. Our compassionate and knowledgeable pediatric cardiologists offer the latest diagnostic approaches and  treatment options for your comprehensive care. Learn the signs and symptoms. Truncus arteriosus is a serious condition that requires immediate attention. Make an appointment with one of our truncus arteriosus care doctors today.