R R

What Is Truncus Arteriosus Repair?

Truncus arteriosus repair is open-heart surgery that creates separate pathways for blood traveling to the lungs and to the rest of the body in an infant born with persistent truncus arteriosus. In this congenital defect, one large arterial trunk leaves the heart instead of separate aortic and pulmonary arteries, and a ventricular septal defect is also present. The repair closes the ventricular septal defect so the left ventricle directs blood into the truncal root, which becomes the systemic outflow. The pulmonary arteries are separated from the common trunk and connected to the right ventricle with a valved conduit.

Link to This Resource Page

Provide a valuable resource to your clients or customers by linking to this resource page. Just place the following link on your website.

To display this...

What Is Truncus Arteriosus Repair?

Truncus arteriosus repair is open-heart surgery that creates separate pathways for blood traveling to the lungs and to the rest of the body in an infant born with persistent truncus arteriosus. In this congenital defect, one large arterial trunk leaves the heart instead of separate aortic and pulmonary arteries, and a ventricular septal defect is also present. The repair closes the ventricular septal defect so the left ventricle directs blood into the truncal root, which becomes the systemic outflow. The pulmonary arteries are separated from the common trunk and connected to the right ventricle with a valved conduit.

read more about truncus arteriosus repair ...

Copy this HTML:

Copy HTML Copied!

Why Is Truncus Arteriosus Repair Performed?

The operation is required because untreated truncus arteriosus sends excessive blood to the lungs while mixing oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood in a single arterial trunk. This can lead to heart failure, pulmonary vascular damage, poor growth, and inadequate oxygen delivery. Repair is usually performed early in infancy, often during the neonatal period, to establish separate pulmonary and systemic circulations before irreversible lung-vessel disease develops. Associated problems such as interrupted aortic arch or significant truncal-valve dysfunction can require repair during the same operation.

How Is Truncus Arteriosus Repair Performed?

The operation is performed through a median sternotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass. A patch is placed over the ventricular septal defect so blood from the left ventricle flows through the truncal valve into the vessel that will function as the aorta. The pulmonary arteries are detached from the common trunk and connected to the right ventricle using a valved conduit or another right-ventricle-to-pulmonary-artery reconstruction. The surgeon can also repair the truncal valve, pulmonary arteries, or aortic arch when associated abnormalities are present.

What Is Recovery Like After Truncus Arteriosus Repair?

Infants recover in a cardiac intensive-care unit with close monitoring of heart function, oxygen levels, blood pressure, rhythm, ventilation, and fluid balance. Medications can support cardiac output and blood pressure while the repaired circulation adapts after cardiopulmonary bypass. Feeding and activity are advanced as breathing and heart function stabilize and the chest incision heals. Lifelong congenital-cardiology follow-up is required because the right-ventricle-to-pulmonary-artery conduit, truncal valve, and pulmonary arteries can require later catheter procedures or repeat surgery.

What Are the Risks and Complications?

Early complications can include bleeding, infection, arrhythmias, low cardiac output, neurologic injury, and problems related to cardiopulmonary bypass. The right-ventricle-to-pulmonary-artery conduit can narrow, calcify, or become too small as the child grows and commonly requires later replacement. Truncal-valve regurgitation or stenosis and pulmonary-artery narrowing can also require reintervention. Long-term outcomes have improved substantially, but repeat procedures remain common throughout childhood and adulthood.

Frequently Asked Questions About Truncus Arteriosus Repair

What happens to the ventricular septal defect during truncus repair?

A patch closes the ventricular septal defect and directs left-ventricular blood toward the truncal root, which becomes the systemic outflow to the body.

Why is a conduit placed during truncus arteriosus repair?

The conduit creates a new connection from the right ventricle to the pulmonary arteries after they are separated from the common arterial trunk.

Will the conduit need to be replaced later?

Usually, yes. Conduits do not grow with the child and can also narrow or deteriorate, so replacement or catheter-based reintervention is commonly required over time.

Is lifelong heart follow-up required after truncus repair?

Yes. Patients need lifelong congenital-heart care to monitor the conduit, truncal valve, pulmonary arteries, heart rhythm, and ventricular function.

References

Truncus Arteriosus. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/congenital-heart-defects/about-congenital-heart-defects/truncus-arteriosus. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.

Surgery for Truncus Arteriosus: Contemporary Practice. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32828754/. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.

Long-term outcomes of truncus arteriosus repair: A modulated renewal competing risks analysis. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33726908/. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.

Timing the Repair in Truncus Arteriosus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis with Reconstructed Time-to-Event Data Comparing Staged Repair and Primary Correction. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41944277/. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.

2025 ACC/AHA/HRS/ISACHD/SCAI Guideline for the Management of Adults With Congenital Heart Disease: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001402. Date Accessed September 11, 2026.