The Effectiveness of Balloon Atrial Septostomy in Neonates with Great Artery Transposition in Duhok, Iraq

D-loop transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) ; the aorta arises anteriorly from the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery arises posteriorly from the left ventricle, is the second most common form of cyanotic congenital disease, d-loop transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA), has a high mortality rate (85-90 percent) if left untreated1,2. The newborns' life expectancy is dependent on sufficient intercirculatory mixing3. These patients' survival depends on creating defects that allow the two circulations to mix namely ASD, VSD, and PDA4. Conventionally, such a defect has been attained by formation of or enlarging pre-existing PFO/ASD 3. In 1950, surgical septotomy ('Blalock-Hanlon septectomy') was first reported and ever since considered the gold standard of care for D-TGA patients5. Subsequently, Rashkind et al developed catheter-based fluoroscopy guided technique named Balloon Atrial Septostomy (BAS) or Rashkind septotomy in 19666-8.