“Truncus arteriosus occurs in less than one out of every 10,000 live births. Truncus arteriosus occurs in less than one out of every 10,000 live births. It can occur by itself or as part of certain genetic disorders. There are about 250 cases of truncus arteriosus per year in the United States.

Before a baby is born, the fetus’s blood does not need to go to the lungs to get oxygenated. The ductus arteriosus is a hole that allows the blood to skip the circulation to the lungs. Every baby is born with a ductus arteriosus. After birth, the opening is no longer needed and it usually narrows and closes within the first few days.  In most children, the cause of PDA isn’t known. Some children can have other heart defects along with the PDA.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov)