Video - Transposition of the great vessels

Transposition of the great vessels (TGA) is a congenital heart defect in which the positions of the two main blood vessels leaving the heart, the pulmonary artery and the aorta, are switched. This means that the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs is pumped back to the lungs instead of being circulated to the body. The oxygen-poor blood from the body is pumped back to the body instead of being circulated to the lungs. TGA can cause severe oxygen deprivation in the body and can lead to life-threatening complications. TGA is not compatible with life unless there is a shunt (VSD, PDA, patent foramen ovale). Also, without prompt treatment, most infants die within the first few months of life. The treatment for TGA involves surgery to switch the positions of the blood vessels.