Prenatally diagnosed left ventricular diverticulum with thoracoabdominal wall defect: a case and review of the literature

Prenatal diagnosis of fetal left ventricular diverticulum: 3D virtual and physical reconstruction models

Congenital diverticulum is a very rare congenital heart disease. 3D virtual and physical models from ultrasound scan data provide a spatial visualization and better understanding of congenital heart disease to the parents and support possible surgical procedures.

Prenatal diagnosis of fetal right ventricular diverticulum with massive pericardial effusion in one of monochorionic diamniotic twins: a case report with a favorable outcome following in utero pericardiocentesis

Background

Congenital ventricular diverticulum is a rare abnormality that may occur as an isolated malformation. Most cases are accompanied by pericardial effusion. Prenatal counseling can be difficult because the prognosis is uncertain and there is no consensus approach to prenatal management.

Case presentation: We describe a case of congenital cardiac diverticulum complicated by large pericardial effusion in one of monochorionic diamniotic twins. The case was diagnosed by ultrasonography at 21 weeks of gestation. Therapeutic pericardiocentesis at 22 weeks resulted in complete resolution of the effusion and led to a favorable fetal outcome. We summarize the interventions and pregnancy outcomes in cases of cardiac diverticula reported in the literature.

Conclusions

Better awareness of clinical features, in utero therapies, and pregnancy outcomes could help define and improve prenatal management of congenital ventricular diverticula.

Prenatally Diagnosed Congenital Ventricular Outpouchings: An Institutional Experience and Review of the Literature

Congenital ventricular outpouchings (CVOs) are rare congenital heart defects with limited data regarding prognosis and outcomes. We aimed to describe the characteristics, outcomes and factors associated with morbidity and mortality of prenatally diagnosed CVOs using our institutional experience and a review of published cases. A total of 86 cases of prenatally diagnosed CVOs were identified, including 3 from our institution and 83 cases identified from a review of the literature. Fetal and postnatal outcomes were analyzed for each case. Pericardial effusions (44%) and ventricular dysfunction (17%) were the most common associated findings. Excluding cases that resulted in pregnancy termination, mortality was 17%, with the majority (11/13) occurring in the prenatal period. Factors associated with mortality included an outpouching located on the left ventricle, a diagnosis of hydrops fetalis, the presence of a pericardial effusion, and an earlier gestational age at diagnosis. Of those that survived to delivery, 57% remained asymptomatic without the need for intervention, and the outpouching regressed or resolved in an additional 15%. Prenatally diagnosed congenital ventricular outpouchings are a dynamic form of congenital heart disease with a high fetal mortality rate. The outcomes associated with the outpouchings appear to be the most variable in the prenatal period and the first year after birth. Serial prenatal and postnatal evaluations should be performed to evaluate for a change in the characteristics of the outpouching.

Multimodality Imaging and Clinical Significance of Congenital Ventricular Outpouchings: Recesses, Diverticula, Aneurysms, Clefts, and Crypts

The high spatial resolution of cardiac computed tomography (CT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) permit the diagnosis of congenital ventricular outpouchings (CVOs), including congenital ventricular diverticula (CVD), congenital ventricular aneurysms (CVA), clefts, and crypts. A unique classification has not been established, and these terms are used interchangeably with confounding terminology. Moreover, their significance is not univocal. A research was performed using PubMed on six subjects: (1) congenital left ventricular outpouchings; (2) congenital ventricular diverticulum; (3) congenital ventricular aneurysm; (4) ventricular clefts; (5) ventricular crypts; and (6) ventricular crevices. Usually, CVOs are small with a preserved contraction and in asymptomatic patients, the clinical relevance may be minimal, although electrocardiographic anomalies are often present. CVA and diverticula may carry an embolic risk and cases of arrhythmia and rupture are described. In the presence of clefts, or crypts a cardiomyopathy should be excluded. A simple classification can be proposed: CVD extend beyond the myocardial wall and fibrous type may be termed CVA, acquired forms should be kept distinct. Clefts, or crypts, are small recesses extending for more than 50% of the ventricular wall but not beyond its margin. The presence of fibrosis may be evaluated by CMR. A multicenter prospective registry would be helpful to investigate potential clinical implications and to exclude dubious forms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or ventricular noncompaction. In conclusion, CVOs have been described with different terminologies and classifications. Their significance needs to be interpreted in the clinical setting and with the help of a multimodality imaging, particularly of CMR.

Prenatal diagnosis of a left ventricular diverticulum

A congenital left ventricular diverticulum is a rare prenatal finding. The four‐chamber view of the heart is a standard part of the 18–20 week morphology scan, and evaluation of the heart with colour Doppler imaging has greatly enhanced the detection of rare and subtle cardiac anomalies.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Cardiac Diverticulum with Pericardial Effusion in the First Trimester of Pregnancy with Resolution after Early Pericardiocentesis

Cardiac diverticulum is a rare anomaly, which may present in association with pericardial effusion. Only few cases diagnosed during fetal life have been published and only in 12 cases pericardiocentesis was made with good postnatal outcomes in 83% of the cases. In the first trimester of pregnancy only 6 cases were reported. We described the largest series of cases published. We describe a case of cardiac diverticulum complicated with pericardial effusion during the first trimester of pregnancy and resolved by intrauterine pericardiocentesis at 17 weeks of pregnancy. We made a systematic review of the literature with the cases reported of cardiac diverticulum, management, and outcomes.

Echocardiography detection of fetal ventricular aneurysm: A report of three cases

From March 2007 to September 2009, we have screened with echocardiography a total of 6,502 pregnant women for fetal heart disease. We found three cases of fetal ventricular aneurysm. The relatively large size of the aneurysm in these three cases was clearly visible under standard four-chamber view. Two were right ventricular aneurysms arisen from the ventricular free wall, and both showed characteristics of true aneurysm with a thin wall and a large communication with the ventricular chamber. Color Doppler showed passive movement of aneurysm during right ventricle contraction. The third case was a large left ventricular aneurysm outpouching from a small opening of the left ventricular wall close to the apical region. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 43:257-261, 2015.

Electrophysiologic features of fetal ventricular aneurysms and diverticula

OBJECTIVE

Congenital ventricular wall defects are very rare and include congenital ventricular aneurysms (CVAs) and diverticula (CVDs).

METHOD

We report a series of five fetuses: three with CVAs and two with CVDs referred due to fetal arrhythmia. In addition to routine fetal echocardiography, fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG) was used. The literature in CVA and CVD is reviewed.

RESULTS

Incessant premature ventricular contractions (PVC), mainly bigeminy and trigeminy were found in three fetuses with CVAs and in one with CVD, who also had ventricular couplets. The other fetus with CVD, referred because of PVCs, had only sinus tachycardia. ST elevation was noted in two. Fetal movement had a variable impact on PVCs. Postnatal evaluation demonstrated two persistent left ventricular aneurysms and one persistent right CVD; one CVD resolved at 35-week gestation. Two neonates had incessant PVCs. Both arrhythmias resolved spontaneously while being treated with propranolol.

CONCLUSION

FMCG is complementary to echocardiographic imaging. In fetuses with left ventricular wall defects, additional electrophysiological diagnosis can be made by fMCG, including the complexity of ventricular ectopy, arrhythmic response to fetal movement, presence of ST-T wave abnormalities, and atrial amplitude increases. Prenatal risk factor assessment using fMCG can additionally support post-natal treatment and follow-up.

Congenital left ventricular outpouchings: a systematic review of 839 cases and introduction of a novel classification after two centuries

BACKGROUND

Congenital left ventricular outpouchings (LVOs) are reported under five overlapping and poorly defined terms including left ventricular accessory chamber, left ventricular aneurysm (LVA), left ventricular diverticulum (LVD), double-chambered LV, and accessory left ventricle. Diagnostic criteria are frequently mixed and not mutually exclusive. They convey no information regarding treatment strategy and prognosis.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this systematic review is to provide a clear and inclusive classification, with therapeutic and prognostic implications, for congenital LVOs.

DATA SOURCES

We performed three separate sets of search on three subjects including "congenital left ventricular outpouchings," "important and simply measurable markers of left ventricular function," and "relationship of mechanics of intraventricular blood flow and optimal vortex formation in left ventricle and elliptical geometry of LV."

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

We enrolled case series, review articles, and case reports with literature review. All types of acquired LVO's were excluded.

STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS

We studied the abstracts of all searched articles. We focused on diagnostic criteria and patients' outcome. To examine the validity and reliability of the novel classification, fifteen previous studies were revisited using the novel classification.

RESULTS

A total of 20 papers from 11 countries fulfilled our inclusion criteria. The age of patients ranged from prenatal age to geriatric age range. Diagnostic criteria were clearly stated only for two of the above five terms (i.e., congenital LVA and congenital LVD). Cases with mixed diagnostic criteria were frequent.Elliptical geometry of left ventricle was found to have significant impact on effective blood flow mechanics in LV. A simple inclusive classification for congenital LVOs, with therapeutic and prognostic implications, was introduced.

CONCLUSION

The cornerstone of this classification is elliptical LV geometry. Large-type IIc LVO have dismal prognosis, if left untreated. LVO type I and small LVO type IIa have the best prognosis.