Truncus arteriosus

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Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

Signs and symptoms of truncus arteriosus often develop in the first few weeks of life. They include:

  • Blue coloring of the skin (cyanosis)
  • Poor feeding
  • Excessive sleepiness
  • Poor growth
  • Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
  • Rapid breathing (tachypnea)
  • Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia)
  • Excessive sweating (diaphoresis)

When to see a doctor
Seek medical treatment if you notice that your baby has any of the following problems:

  • Blue coloring of the skin (cyanosis)
  • Poor feeding
  • Poor weight gain
  • Excessive sleepiness
  • Excessive sweating

Some signs of truncus arteriosus may indicate a problem that needs urgent care. If your baby experiences any of the following signs and symptoms and you can't see your baby's doctor  immediately, seek emergency medical care:

  • Rapid, shallow or labored breathing
  • Worsening of blue coloring of the skin
  • Loss of consciousness
References
  1. Hirsh JC, et al. Congenital heart disease. In: Doherty GM. Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Surgery. 13th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5215009. Accessed April 16, 2010.
  2. Specific cardiac defects. In: Libby P, et al. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..50064-9--cesec197&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4106-1..50064-9--cesec319&uniq=195744492&isbn=978-1-4160-4106-1&sid=984783871. Accessed April 16, 2010.
  3. Persistent truncus arteriosus. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec19/ch287/ch287k.html. Accessed April 16, 2010.
  4. Sondheimer HM, et al. Cardiovascular diseases. In: Hay WW, et al. Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Pediatrics. 19th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3402846. Accessed April 16, 2010.
  5. Truncus arteriosus. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11073. Accessed April 16, 2010.
  6. Congenital heart defects. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1212.asp. Accessed April 16, 2010.
  7. Koenig PR, et al. Congenital coronary artery abnormalities. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 6, 2010.
  8. Sullivan KE. Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: DiGeorge syndrome/velocardiofacial syndrome. Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. 2008;28:353.
  9. Cyanotic congenital heart disease: Lesions associated with increased pulmonary blood flow. In: Kliegman MD, et al. Nelson's Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/195744492-3/0/1608/1010.html?tocnode=54483014&fromURL=1010.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50433-3_8277. Accessed April 16, 2010.
  10. Verhaert D, et al. Truncus arteriosus with aortic arch interruption: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance findings in the unrepaired adult. Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. 2010;12:16.
DS00746 July 13, 2010

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