Conditions & Treatments

Transposition of the great arteries - Other Information

Living with Transposition of the great arteries (TGA)

Activity

You may need to restrict your activity especially if your heart function is weak or there is presence of abnormal heart rhythm or valve issues. Your cardiologist will determine the limitations to your activities.

Prevention of endocarditis

You will need antibiotics to prevent endocarditis (infection of the inner layer of the heart) before any dental procedures if there are residual problems after operation. Antibiotics may also be required if you should go for body piercing or tattooing. Please consult your cardiologist.

Family planning and pregnancy

There are some associated risks with pregnancy even after TGA repair is done. Please consult your cardiologist for advice.

National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS) and the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology from Singapore General Hospital run a monthly specialised joint Cardiac-Obstetric Clinic on the last Monday morning of the month to see all pregnant patients with heart disease. Over the last 10 years, we have managed 200 to 300 pregnant patients with varying severity of cardiac problems through their pregnancy with successful outcomes.

NHCS Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Programme

This programme was first started in 2003 and currently offers:

ACHD clinic on every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon, and on the first and third Fridays of the month in which an average of 20-30 patients are seen at each session. Besides offering care and follow up of ACHD patients, NHCS also does screening of suspected Marfan patients; close monitoring of ACHD patients during pregnancy (see Pregnancy and Women with CHD) and a monthly joint Cardiac Obstetric Clinic (every last Monday of the month) with obstetricians from Singapore General Hospital (SGH) ; Monthly Transition Clinic in KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) run jointly with paediatric cardiologists from KKH for patients above the age of 16. The aim is to give paediatric patients a smooth transition from paediatric cardiology to adult cardiology services. An average of 100-150 teenagers with congenital heart disease are transferred from KKH to NHCS every year. There is also a monthly Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic (every second Friday of the month) run jointly with a respiratory physician and a rheumatologist from SGH for general as well as congenital patients with severe pulmonary hypertension.
Dedicated twice weekly congenital echocardiography sessions.
Dedicated weekly congenital cardiac catheterisation and intervention (particularly atrial septal defect (ASD), patent foramen ovale (PFO) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) device closure).
Surgical interventions including extra-cardiac Fontan procedures for uni-ventricular hearts, pulmonary homograft replacements for Tetralogy of Fallot patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation, Rastalli conduit for patients with pulmonary atresia.
Expertise in nuclear imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and multi-slice computed tomography (CT) imaging.
Expertise in pacing, arrhythmia treatment and ablation in congenital patients.
Expertise in cardiopulmonary and exercise testing.
Expertise in heart and lung transplantation for selected patients with end-stage congenital heart disease.
Dedicated ACHD nurse for education, support and care of ACHD patient and their families.

Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Clinic

This clinic looks after patients with operated as well as unoperated congenital heart conditions from age 16 onwards. Adults with congenital heart disease need regular monitoring and sometimes further surgical interventions. It also screens suspected Marfan patients and monitors ACHD patients closely during pregnancy.

For more information on NHCS Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Programme, visit here.