Transposition of the great arteries differential diagnosis


 * Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [mailto:psingh@perfuse.org]; ; Keri Shafer, M.D. [mailto:kshafer@bidmc.harvard.edu]; Assistant Editor(s)-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S. [mailto:kfeeney@perfuse.org]

Overview
Patients with transposition of the great vessels should be differentiated from other cardiac and non-cardiac causes of cyanosis-

Cardiac causes (starts with 't')-


 * Tetralogy of Fallot
 * Truncus arteriosus
 * Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection
 * Tricuspid valve abnormalities

Other less common causes are- pulmonary atresia, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, anomalous systemic venous connection.

Non-cardiac causes


 * Pulmonary diseases - Structural abnormalities of the lung, V/P (ventilation-perfusion mismatch), airway obstruction, pneumothorax, and hypoventilation.
 * Abnormal hemoglobin like methemoglobin, polycythemia
 * Peripheral cyanosis for e.g. sepsis, hypoglycemia, dehydration, and hypoadrenalism.

Acknowledgements and Initial Contributors to Page
Leida Perez, M.D.