Complete transposition of the great arteries

Complete transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a congenital condition where the aorta and pulmonary artery are transposed, resulting in abnormal connections with the left and right ventricles. Specifically, the aorta connects to the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery connects to the left ventricle, forming two separate, parallel circulatory systems (systemic and pulmonary). If TGA is the only cardiac anomaly, the newborn's pulmonary circulation is a closed loop, preventing oxygenated blood from reaching the rest of the body via the arteries. This leads to rapid onset of hypoxia, and without timely surgical intervention, it can quickly be fatal. If other cardiac anomalies are present, such as a ventricular septal defect (VSD) or an atrial septal defect (ASD), the child may survive longer, allowing time to prepare for surgery.