TRUNCUS ARTERIOSUS

      Normal                                             Truncus

As in the case of transposition, in this situation the origin of the "great vessels" (the aorta and pulmonary arteries) is abnormal. In this case, both arise from a common "trunk". Blood from both ventricles mixes together as it all exits through the single valve exiting from the heart.

The treatment of Truncus involves sewing a flexible tube with its own valve from the right ventricle to bring blood to the pulmonary arteries.
©COPY;1997 HeartPoint   Updated November 1997

For more about Congenital Disease, also see these related subjects on HeartPoint:

| Congenital Heart Disease |  Atrial Septal Defect  |  Coarctation of the Aorta  |   Ebstein's Anomaly  |  Patent Ductus   |  Tetralogy of Fallot  |
|  Transposition of the Great Vessels |  Truncus Arteriosus  |  Ventricular Septal Defect  |

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