Abstract

Conotruncal heart defects, which make up about one fifth of all congenital heart anomalies, are an important group of serious congenital heart defects. They consist of tetralogy of Fallot, truncus arteriosus communis, double outlet right ventricle, double outlet left ventricle, transpositsioon of great arteries and aortic interruption. As prenatal screening is successful in identifying almost half of the cases and as most of these babies are born to mothers with unknown risk factors, immediate correct postnatal diagnosis is crucial for the health of the newborn and for planning potentially life-saving surgery.

The knowledge of the embryological development of the heart is essential for understanding conotruncal heart defects. New different factors, both genetic and environmental, which influence the development of the heart and result in conotruncal heart defects are described every day.