title: Complex Ebstein's malformation: defining preoperative cardiac anatomy and function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ebstein's malformation is a congenital malformation of the tricuspid valve and right ventricle, with a highly variable morphology, and clinical presentation, accounting for less than 1% of all congenital heart diseases, and about 40% of congenital malformations of the tricuspid valve.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review of English language literature regarding the morphogenesis and progress of imaging techniques, especially echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, in the preoperative planning of Ebstein's malformation, using the MEDLINE database with the PubMed Entre interface.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Technological developments of the recent years, with 3D echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging evolution, have resulted in better understanding of the malformed tricuspid valve and right ventricle in vivo anatomy. Through a better understanding of Ebstein's malformation, there is a continuous trend of surgical techniques favoring tricuspid valve sparing procedures, with a constant decrease in early and late postoperative mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although imaging methods to investigate Ebstein's malformation have continuously evolved, standardization of assessment protocols by 3D echocardiographic imaging, speckle tracking imaging, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is required.
authors: Universityof Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, Bucharest, Romania. negoiruxandra@gmail.com
authors: Ruxandra Irina
authors: RI
authors: Negoi
authors: Alexandru Teodor
authors: AT
authors: Ispas
authors: Ioana
authors: I
authors: Ghiorghiu
authors: Florin
authors: F
authors: Filipoiu
authors: Ionut
authors: I
authors: Negoi
authors: Mihaela
authors: M
authors: Hostiuc
authors: Sorin
authors: S
authors: Hostiuc
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Ginghina
mesh_terms: D004437:Ebstein Anomaly / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D057234:Preoperative Period; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology