What Are The Symptoms And Complications Of Transposition Of The Great Arteries?

Shortness Of Breath

Individuals affected by shortness of breath (dyspnea) have described the sensation as an inability to breathe deeply enough or fast enough. Infants with TGA often present with dyspnea because of their poor heart function. Because the blood enters and exits the heart without picking up any oxygen, the tissues in the body cannot function the way they should. The brain senses the tissues around the body are not receiving enough oxygen, and it activates a response to that. The body's response involves an increase in the heart rate and an increase in breathing rate. Inhalation of greater amounts of oxygen at a faster pace should be able to oxygenate the blood more efficiently, compensating for the oxygen shortage the brain has sensed. However, this mechanism is not successful for improving oxygen levels in the blood of transposition of the great arteries patients because of the defective anatomy of their heart. Nonetheless, the brain does not understand this and activates the natural mechanism anyway.

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