title: [Echocardiographic findings in infants with transposition of the great arteries].
abstract: Preoperative echocardiographic examinations were performed in 48 infants with complete transposition of the great arteries (TGA). The patients were classified according to age into 4 groups: group A (n = 24) 1 to 4 days; group B (n = 7) 14 days to 3 months; group C (n = 8) 3 to 6 months; group D (n = 9) 6 to 12 months. The right ventricular end-diastolic dimension (RVED) was significantly increased above normal in all but group B. The left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVED) was significantly decreased only in group D. During the first year of life, the mean LVED remained essentially unchanged while the mean RVED clearly increased. The ratio of the LVED/RVED as well as the relationship between the dimensions of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVO) and the pulmonary artery decreased significantly. With increasing age systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve, diastolic contact of the anterior mitral valve leaflet with the interventricular septum (IVS) and systolic closure of the pulmonary valve leaflets were observed more frequently. In some cases, both echocardiographically and contrast-ventriculographically, the LVO appeared to demonstrate obstruction but cardiac catheterization revealed a meaningful pressure gradient (LVO/PA) only in 3 patients in group D. In the course of the first year of life, these patients with TGA showed an increasing size of the right ventricle which assumed a rounded shape due to bulging of the IVS into the left ventricle. The left ventricle tended to become sickle-shaped with narrowing of the LVO which did not necessarily create a hemodynamically-effective obstruction. Thus, in patients with TGA, echocardiography rendered typical, qualitative findings, comparable with contrast ventriculography, albeit without hemodynamic inferences.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001835:Body Weight; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000175:diagnosis*
vernacular_title: Echokardiographische Befunde bei Säuglingen mit Transposition der grossen Arterien.