Truncus arteriosus (TA) is a rare congenital cardiovascular anomaly characterized by a single arterial trunk arising from the heart by means of a single semilunar valve (<I>i.e.</I> truncal valve). Pulmonary arteries originate from the common arterial trunk distal to the coronary arteries and proximal to the first brachiocephalic branch of the aortic arch. TA typically overrides a large outlet ventricular septal defect (VSD). The intracardiac anatomy usually displays situs solitus and atrioventricular (AV) concordance.
An 8 week old infant with severe heart failure from type 1 truncus arteriosus underwent successful corrective surgery employing the Rastelli procedure with use of deep hypothermia and total circulatory arrest.
