Echocardiography:Essential Points in the Evaluation and Management of Transposition of the Great Arteries

Abstract

The complete echocardiographic evaluation of the patient with transposition of the great arteries requires diagnosing not only the ventriculoarterial connections (transposition) but only the atrial situs and the atrioventricular connections. The echocardiographic features of the discordant ventriculoarterial connection with a subpulmonary conus and absent subaortic conus include a left-sided infundibulum connection the left ventricle to the pulmonary artery, a somewhat small subaortic ventricular septal defect through which the mitral valve is in fibrous continuity with the aortic valve, subvalvular and/ or valvular pulmonary stenosis, and a characteristic coronary artery pattern. The spatial relationship of the great arteries, the chamber sizes, and the associated defect including atrial septal defect/patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect, and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction provide supportive evidence of the diagnosis. Also the evaluation of coronary artery anatomy has become an major part of the preoperative echocardiographic examination.