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Transposition of the great vessels - Symptom

Alternative Names

Transposition of the great arteries; TGA; d-TGA

Symptoms:

Blueness of the skin
Clubbing of the fingers or toes
Poor feeding
Shortness of breath

Signs and tests:

The health care provider may detect a heart murmur while listening to the chest with a stethoscope. The baby's mouth and skin will be a blue color.

Tests often include the following:

Cardiac catheterization
Chest x-ray
ECG
Echocardiogram (if done before birth, it is called a fetal echocardiogram)
Pulse oximetry (to check blood oxygen level)

Heart, section through the middle

Heart, front view

Transposition of the great vessels

Reviewed last on: 12/21/2009
Kurt R. Schumacher, MD, Pediatric Cardiology, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, MI. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, 8th ed. St. Louis, Mo; WB Saunders; 2007.

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