Arterial Switch Operation Treatment

The arterial switch operation procedure is used to treat d-transposition of the heart’s arteries. In this condition aorta and pulmonary artery are switched. Due to this, the heart won’t able to pump out oxygen-rich blood to the other body organs. This condition is considered as congenital heart disease and mainly affects newborn babies or infants. Those babies who are born with this condition experience various symptoms because their heart’s big arteries are occur in the wrong place. 

Therefore, doctors determine arterial switch repair procedures, which assist in correcting d- transposition in children and also improves oxygen supply to the body. An arterial switch is an advanced surgery procedure. During this surgery, senior doctors and surgeons move the baby’s aorta and pulmonary artery to their actual place so the heart can function like a normal heart. A surgeon performs this open-heart surgery after two weeks of the baby’s birth.  

Benefits of the Procedure 

The arterial switch procedure is a lifesaving surgery procedure which is performed to restore the functioning of the baby’s heart. Those babies who are born with D-transposition need urgent treatment within two weeks because without surgery their life expectation is very low. Hence, they can’t survive for long. 

Therefore, doctors perform many tests to examine the baby’s heart condition and then approach the suitable treatment for the patient. One of the key benefits of surgery is that the baby’s heart begins to supply enough blood to other body organs like lungs and it restores the proper functioning of the heart arteries.  

Risks and Complications Associated with the Procedure

Although the surgery is a lifesaving procedure but in rare cases it can some complications which are given below:

• Blockage in Coronary arteries 
• Narrowing of Relocated Vessels 
• Leaky Heart Valves 
• Shortness in Breath
• Pain
• Difficulty while feeding 

Arterial Switch Operation Treatment Procedure 

• Before Procedure:
  • After the child is born, a healthcare provider uses other therapies for the temporary basis to assist the baby to get more oxygen before undergoing the surgery. Doctors offers: 
  • Septostomy which is a temporary procedure to improve oxygen flow in the body.
  • Breathing assistance with a ventilator. 
  • Medications like inotropes or prostaglandin. 
• During Procedure:
  • In the beginning the surgeon opened the chest with a sternotomy.
  • After that he/she starts cardiopulmonary bypass.
  • The operating surgeon detaches the baby’s aorta and pulmonary artery without involving nearby heart valves. 
  • After removing the coronary arteries from the native aorta which is linked to the right ventricle in the babies with d- transposition attach the coronary arteries to new aorta and actual aorta to properly pump out the oxygen rich blood to lungs and other body organs. 
  • Once the procedure is done the doctor will close the incisions through stitches and transfer the baby to PICU rooms for observation to ensure all vitals are stable and working well.   
• After Care:
  • Once the surgery is done the baby is kept under observation just to make sure the surgery has been successful. 
  • All vitals, pain management IVs and drugs are closely monitored.
  • When doctors find the baby is recovering well they transfer the baby from PICU to normal ward.