Transposition of the Great Arteries Flashcards
(36 cards)
Concordance in normal heart?
- AV (atrioventricular) concordance: LA to LV; RA to RV
- VA (ventricular arterial) concordance: LV to aorta; RV to PA
Key abnormalities in complete transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA)?
- Transposed Ao and PA
- PDA
- Great arteries are transposed so there is VA discordance: LV to PA; RV to aorta
Characteristics of d-TGA?
- PA arises from morphological LV and aorta arises from morphological RV
- Communication between atria via PFO and/or communication between aorta and PA via PDA
How does d-TGA occur?
- Occurs when coco-truncal septum fails to grow in its normal spiral course and instead runs straight down
- As a result, aorta is anterior and rightward and arises from RV
- PA is posterior and leftward arising from LV
d-TGA: Circulatory Pathway
- Deoxygenated blood from IVC and SVC enters RA and flows to RV –> aorta –> systemic circulation
- Oxygenated blood returning from pulmonary veins –> LA –> LV –> PA to lungs
- 2 circulations, systemic and pulmonary, are in parallel rather than in series
- In order to survive, communication between atria via PFO and/or communication between aorta and PA via PDA must also exist
d-TGA: Associated lesions?
- VSD
- Pulmonary outflow tract obstruction
- CoAo
- Aortic arch hypoplasia
- Variations in coronary artery origin and course
d-TGA: Associated syndromes?
- DiGeorge Syndrome
- Down Syndrome
- Goldenhar Syndrome
How is d-TGA diagnosed?
- Diagnosed in PLAX by demonstrating side-by-side parallel alignment of aorta seen anteriorly and PA seen posteriorly
- From PSAX, both great vessels are seen in their short axis wth aorta seen anterior to PA
- Normal sausage or circle appearance of great arteries is absent from PSAX
Palliative procedures in d-TGA?
Palliative procedures such as balloon septostomy may be performed in infants with TGA when PFO inadequate and when PDA has closed, or in anticipation of ductal closure
Echo in balloon septostomy?
- Commonly performed under echo guidance
- Used to ensure inflated balloon is within LA and not across MV prior to jerking balloon back across IAS
- Aim to increase size of PFO or to create a small ASD
Echo Post Balloon Septostomy?
Assess efficiency of septostomy; look at size of hole in IAS and degree of shunting through this defect
Options of surgical repair in d-TGA?
- Atrial switch (Mustard and Senning)
- Arterial switch (Jatene)
What is the Atrial Switch operation?
- At atrial level, vena canal flow is baffled to a systemic venous atrium (SVA), across MV, to LV and ejected to PA
- Pulmonary venous flow is baffled to a pulmonary venous atrium (PVA), across TV to RV and ejected to aorta
- As a result, circulation is corrected
Circulation post atrial switch operation?
- Vana cava –> SVA –> MV –> LV –> PA –> lungs
- Pulmonary veins –> PVA –> TV –> RV –> aorta –> systemic circulation
Role of echo post atrial switch?
- Intra-atrial channel potency
- RV and LV size and systolic function
- TR severity
- PASP (LVSP from MR)
Identifying SVC channel with echo?
- SVC channel may be imaged from slightly off-axis PLAX view
- SVC channel runs posterior and horizontal to great arteries
Off-axis APLAX: SVC channel courses horizontally
Identifying IVC channel with echo?
- IVC and pulmonary venous channels best seen in apical 4 chamber (CFI useful)
- IVC Channel: blood from IVC baffles to systemic atrium –> MV –> LV to be ejected into PA
Identifying pulmonary venous channel with echo?
- Best seen in apical 4 chamber view (CFI)
- Blood from pul. veins baffled to pulmonary venous atrium –> tV –> RV to be ejected to aorta
- ensures oxygenated blood is being delivered to the body
- Peak flow through baffles/channels can be determined with PW Doppler
Visualising pulmonary valve with echo in d-TGA?
- PV and flow across PV (CW) should be assessed
- Best seen from apical views; when tilting anteriorly from apical 5 chamber, first great artery that we see is PA
- PA posterior to aorta
Visualising aortic valve with echo in d-TGA?
- AV and flow across AV assessed from apical view
- Best seen in apical 4 chamber with anterior tilting beyond PA
- From PA level, transducer tilted further anteriorly to visualise aorta
RV in d-TGA?
Morphological RV is systemic ventricle therefore ventricle almost always dilated with some degree os systolic dysfunction
TR severity of d-TGA?
- TR occurs due to annular dilatation and high RVSP
- RV systemic ventricle; TV not designed to sustain high pressures
- TR assessed normally, CFI and CW
- TR velocity cannot be used to estimate PASP
- RVSP estimated from TR velocity is a reflection of the systemic blood pressure
- TR gradient + right atrial pressure = estimation of systemic systolic pressure
Calculating PASP in d-TGA?
- PASP estimated when MR
- MR velocity = pressure difference between LV and LA during systole
- LVSP = 4(Vmr)^2 + LAP
- In absence of LVOTOB or PS, LVSP = PASP
Most common post atrial-switch complications?
- Baffle leaks and obstruction
- RV failure
- Severe TR