ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY FOR EVALUATING ANATOMIC REPAIR OF TRANSPOSITION OF THE GREAT-ARTERIES

Fifteen survivors of a single-stage anatomic correction of complete transposition of the great arteries performed at a mean age of 1 month were studied by cross-sectional echocardiography, conventional Doppler echocardiography, Doppler color flow mapping, and catheterization at mean of 10 months after surgery. Small aortic regurgitant jets were documented by angiography and Doppler color flow mapping in seven patients. A trivial supravalvular pulmonary gradient was present in seven patients and a mild to moderate gradient in three. Pulmonary artery flow velocities correlated well with those measured at cardiac catheterization (r = 0.96, standard error of the estimate = 2.6 mm Hg). The present study suggests that combined cross-sectional echocardiography, conventional Doppler echocardiography, and Doppler color flow mapping can be used in the follow-up of patients who have had anatomic repair of transposition of the great arteries, reducing the need for repeated postoperative cardiac catheterizations.