What characteristic is noted in patients with transposition of the great arteries?

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a congenital heart defect where the aorta and pulmonary artery are swapped, leading to two separate circulatory systems. In this condition, oxygen-poor blood is circulated through the body while oxygen-rich blood returns to the lungs. This results in profound hypoxia and cyanosis, which is a blue discoloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen in the blood.

Cyanosis is a notable characteristic of TGA, as the mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood is limited, particularly in the absence of significant shunting through other cardiac defects (like ASD or VSD) that sometimes coexist with TGA. Oligemia, or reduced blood flow to parts of the lungs, may also be noted due to the inadequate oxygenation of the blood.

While heart murmurs can occur as a result of associated conditions or structural anomalies, they are not a defining feature of TGA itself. Similarly, although coronary artery anomalies can be present in congenital heart defects, they are not specifically associated with transposition of the great arteries. Hypotension is also not a classic finding in TGA; patients may present with normal or even elevated blood pressures depending on their clinical status.

Thus, cyanotic