Sudden Infant Death Due to Truncus Arteriosus Communis Persistens with Mitral Valve Atresia and Left Ventricular Hypoplasia

Truncus arteriosus is a rare congenital heart defect characterized by a single common arterial trunk giving rise to both the pulmonary and systemic arteries. Concurrent cardiac abnormalities are common. In the absence of surgical intervention, the condition is associated with extremely high infant mortality, with the mechanism of death being either arrhythmia or congestive heart failure. We report the case of a previously healthy and reportedly normal two-week-old infant who was found dead in his crib. At autopsy he was found to have truncus arteriosus communis persistens, a rare subtype of truncus arteriosus with associated valve atresia and left ventricular hypoplasia. This case highlights that forensic pathologists may encounter severe cardiac malformations in previously normal infants, and the necessity for thorough evaluation and accurate diagnoses.