Corrected transposition of the main vessels

Corrected transposition of the main vessels refers to rare congenital heart defects. According to pathologists, its frequency is 0.4-1.2% of all congenital heart defects. However, manifestations in the corrected transposition of the main vessels are minimal, and in many cases it remains undiagnosed. This defect was first described in 1956.

Corrected transposition of the main vessels can occur in the normal and abnormal position of the heart. In this case, the right ventricle with the tricuspid valve is located to the left, the arterial( oxygen-rich) blood circulates in it, and the aorta that occupies the left-sided position departs from it. The left ventricle with a two-fold valve is found on the right, venous( "spent") blood enters it, which is sent to the pulmonary artery to the right of the aorta. Often, there are no other congenital heart defects in the corrected transposition of the main vessels, but they can be represented by a defect of the interventricular septum, pulmonary artery stenosis, less often by an interatrial septal defect, Ebstein abnormality, etc. A combination with the absence of a spleen is possible. Corrected transposition of the main vessels is characterized by abnormal development of the conduction system of the heart, which ensures the appearance of electrical impulses in this organ, due to which the heart muscle contraction occurs. Blood circulation in the corrected transposition of the main vessels without concomitant congenital heart defects has no specific features, except for the arterial left-sided( tricuspid) valve that arises with age, which is not adapted to functioning under high-pressure conditions. Of great importance is the functional state of the myocardium of the right( located on the left side) ventricle, as it pumps blood into the large circle of circulation.

Without accompanying congenital heart defects, complaints are absent in children and the course of the defect is favorable. With other vices, all arising manifestations are determined by their character and differ little from these defects in the normal position of the ventricles and vessels. Children complain of fatigue, dyspnea, palpitations. Attacks of rapid heartbeat and the observed blockade are often mistaken for the consequences of myocarditis( inflammation of the heart muscle).All the noise that the doctor determines when listening to the heart reflects the accompanying heart defects.

ECG data help to suspect a corrected transposition of the main vessels. Additional methods of examination are radiography of chest organs, ultrasound of the heart, sounding of the heart cavities, angiocardiography.

Surgical treatment for a complicated malignancy is aimed at correcting the concomitant defects or prosthetics of the arterial valve in cases of its severe failure.