Taussig Bing anomaly, also known as Taussig-Bing defect or Taussig-Bing heart, is a rare and complex congenital heart disorder that involves abnormal positioning and connections of the great arteries in the heart. This condition is named after Helen Brooke Taussig and Richard Bing, the physicians who first described it.
In individuals with Taussig Bing anomaly, the pulmonary artery and aorta are abnormally positioned and switched. Normally, the aorta is connected to the left ventricle and carries oxygenated blood to the body, whereas the pulmonary artery is connected to the right ventricle and carries deoxygenated blood to the lungs. However, in Taussig Bing anomaly, the aorta arises from the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery from the left ventricle.
This abnormal positioning leads to the separation of the systemic and pulmonary circulation. Consequently, oxygenated blood from the left ventricle is pumped back into the lungs, while deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle is sent to the body. This results in a severe mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, leading to low oxygen levels throughout the body.
Patients with Taussig Bing anomaly often experience symptoms such as cyanosis (bluish discoloration of skin and lips due to low oxygen), rapid breathing, poor growth, and fatigue. Surgical intervention is usually required to correct the defect, typically involving complex procedures to redirect blood flow and reposition the great arteries to their correct position.
Overall, Taussig Bing anomaly is a complex and potentially life-threatening congenital defect that requires early diagnosis and appropriate medical management for optimal outcomes.
