Prenatal diagnosis of transposition of the great arteries: an updated review

Long-Term Coronary Artery Complications Following the Arterial Switch Operation for Transposition of the Great Arteries-A Scoping Review

Coronary artery complications following the arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries have become increasingly relevant as those affected are exposed to the comorbidities of later years. A scoping review was undertaken to explore the incidence, clinical features, and management of the long-term coronary complications after the ASO. The selection criteria yielded 73 articles They recorded few long-term coronary artery complications following the ASO, which were difficult to recognize as most affected patients' symptoms were absent or nonspecific. In patients with suspected coronary artery involvement, coronary angiography or computed tomography provided confirmation, with significant stenosis generally managed by percutaneous trans-catheter interventions.

The Prevalence of Associated Congenital Cardiac Anomalies (Shunt-Dependent Lesions) in Children with Transposition of Great Artery

BACKGROUND

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a rare cyanotic heart disease associated with congenital cardiac anomalies; often called shunt-dependent lesions. Transposition of the great arteries is also linked to syndromic correlates.

AIM

This study was to document the prevalence of TGA and various forms of shunt-dependent lesions in children with TGA.

METHODS

This was a descriptive study where one thousand and five echocardiography were carried out in two health institutions over 9 years.

RESULTS

Data were analyzed with IBM statistical software version 20. The prevalence of children with TGA was 1.7%. The majority of the infants, 73.3%, had ASD as shunt-dependent lesion. All the infants, 100.0%, presented with cyanosis, breathlessness, and poor weight gain. Less than one-tenth of the infants, 6.7%, had an intact septum. The highest proportion of the infants, 80.0%, has more than one congenital cardiac anomaly (shunt-dependent lesions). Infants with TGA have lower left ventricular mass (LVM) of 119.1 ± 116.5 compared with control (18.8 ± 12.6). This was statistically significant, Mann-Whitney U test (11.024), P < 0.001. The under-filled left ventricular mass was found in 73.3% of the infants. Infants with TGA co-existing with Teratology of Fallot (TOF) was (1/15) 6.7%; large Ostium secundum atrial septal defect was (OS ASD) (1/15) 6.7% and cases of ventricular septal defect (VSD) with associated ASD were (1/15) 6.7%. All infants had left aortic arch, which is a normal variant. None (0/15) had any surgical intervention as most were lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of TGA was low in this setting. There were several shunt-dependent lesions associated with TGA. Atrial septal defect is the commonest. Poor management outcome was due to late presentation.

Transposition of the great arteries with an intact ventricular septum in older children

Complete transposition of the great arteries is a common life-threatening complex cyanotic congenital heart disease in infants, resulting in the operation usually performed about one week after birth. However, little is known about the surgical strategy and experience of transposition of the great arteries with an intact ventricular septum in older patients. Herein, we present an abandoned 7-year-old boy with severe cyanosis with clubbed fingers and toes and then diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries with an intact ventricular septum, atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and pulmonary hypertension. The patient underwent a two-staged procedure: an aortopulmonary shunt and pulmonary artery banding were performed at the first stage, followed by the Switch operation, defect repair, and patent ductus arteriosus ligation, all of which were successfully performed. The patient was discharged on the 15th day after the operation, and the arterial oxygen saturation returned to normal level (99%). The illustrative report highlights the essence of raising awareness and developing accurate treatment strategy of transposition of the great arteries, especially in remote rural areas of eastern countries, where the level of health care and services is relatively underdeveloped.

Pathogenesis and Surgical Treatment of Dextro-Transposition of the Great Arteries (D-TGA): Part II

Dextro-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) is the second most common cyanotic heart disease, accounting for 5-7% of all congenital heart defects (CHDs). It is characterized by ventriculoarterial (VA) connection discordance, atrioventricular (AV) concordance, and a parallel relationship with D-TGA. As a result, the pulmonary and systemic circulations are separated [the morphological right ventricle (RV) is connected to the aorta and the morphological left ventricle (LV) is connected to the pulmonary artery]. This anomaly is included in the group of developmental disorders of embryonic heart conotruncal irregularities, and their pathogenesis is multifactorial. The anomaly's development is influenced by genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. It can occur either as an isolated anomaly, or in association with other cardiac defects. The typical concomitant cardiac anomalies that may occur in patients with D-TGA include ventriculoseptal defects, patent ductus arteriosus, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO), mitral and tricuspid valve abnormalities, and coronary artery variations. Correction of the defect during infancy is the preferred treatment for D-TGA. Balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) is necessary prior to the operation. The recommended surgical correction methods include arterial switch operation (ASO) and atrial switch operation (AtrSR), as well as the Rastelli and Nikaidoh procedures. The most common postoperative complications include coronary artery stenosis, neoaortic root dilation, neoaortic insufficiency and neopulmonic stenosis, right ventricular (RV) outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO), left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, arrhythmias, and heart failure. Early diagnosis and treatment of D-TGA is paramount to the prognosis of the patient. Improved surgical techniques have made it possible for patients with D-TGA to survive into adulthood.

Live-Birth Incidence of Isolated D-Transposition of Great Arteries-The Shift in Trends Due to Early Diagnosis

This is a single tertiary population-based study conducted at a center in southwest Romania. We retrospectively compared data obtained in two periods: January 2008-December 2013 and January 2018-December 2023. The global incidence of the transposition of great arteries in terminated cases, in addition to those resulting in live-born pregnancies, remained almost constant. The live-birth incidence decreased. The median gestational age at diagnosis decreased from 29.3 gestational weeks (mean 25.4) to 13.4 weeks (mean 17.2). The second trimester and the overall detection rate in the prenatal period did not significantly change, but the increase was statistically significant in the first trimester. The proportion of terminated pregnancies in fetuses diagnosed with the transposition of great arteries significantly increased (14.28% to 75%, p = 0.019).

Fetal transposition of the great arteries: 3D virtual and physical models from ultrasound datasets

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a cyanotic congenital heart disease characterized by ventriculoarterial discordance and atrioventricular concordance with the great arteries in a parallel relationship. Prenatal diagnosis of TGA has implications for postnatal outcomes, allowing for planned delivery and perinatal management. Three-dimensional virtual or physical models of fetal TGA allow better understanding of fetal cardiac anomalies by parents and interactive discussion among the multidisciplinary team (obstetricians, pediatricians, maternal-fetal specialists, pediatric cardiologists, and cardiovascular surgeons), as well as continuing medical education.

Impact of prenatal diagnosis on outcomes of surgical correction in newborns with transposition of the great arteries comparing to other critical congenital heart defects

A review of the literature data describing the influence of prenatal diagnosis of critical congenital heart defects on perioperative and long-term results is presented, with a focus on the features of prenatal detection of transposition of the great arteries. This heart defect is a convenient object of studying due to the relative anatomical homogeneity of the nosological form; the birth of patients, as a rule, at full term; the rarity of the combination of this pathology with multiple congenital malformations and chromosomal abnormalities that can potentially worsen the results of treatment; the similarity of the principles of preoperative management in this category of patients in different clinics; the performing of arterial switch surgery in a strictly defined time frame (usually during the first month of life); the relative similarity of surgical techniques used. The relevance of this study is to identify patterns that make it possible to improve existing protocols for the treatment of newborns with transposition of the great arteries and create new algorithms for interaction between gynecologists, neonatologists, resuscitators, and cardiac surgeons.

The mitral annulus in transposition of the great arteries late after Senning- and Mustard-procedures (Insights from the CSONGRAD Registry and MAGYAR-Path Study)

Background

Dextro-transposition of the great arteries (dTGA) is a rare condition comprising 5-7% of all congenital heart diseases (CHD). Until 1990s, atrial switch operations were the method of choice for the treatment of dTGA. The aim of our present study was to evaluate the abnormalities of the mitral annulus (MA) by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE). Potential differences in MA dimensions and functional properties late after Senning- and Mustard-procedures were analyzed as well.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study comprised 19 dTGA patients late after atrial switch operation, from which 7 subjects were not involved due to inferior image quality. The remaining dTGA patient group comprised 12 subjects (age: 30.7±8.6 years, 7 males). For comparisons, 32 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were evaluated (age: 34.4±12.3 years, 18 males).

Results

End-systolic and end-diastolic MA diameter (MAD), area and perimeter proved to be increased, while MA functional parameters [MA fractional area change (MAFAC) and fractional shortening (MAFS)] were reduced in all dTGA patients as compared to matched controls regardless of the atrial switch procedure used. However, MA morphological parameters were tendentiously lower, while MA functional parameters were tendentiously favorable in case of Senning-procedure compared to Mustard-procedure.

Conclusions

dTGA is accompanied by MA dilation and its functional impairment late after Senning- and Mustard-procedures.

Effect of Chronic Heart Failure Complicated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Cognitive Function in the Elderly

Objective

To explore the effect of chronic heart failure complicated with type 2 diabetes mellitus on cognitive function in the elderly.

Methods

600 patients with chronic heart failure were selected from January 2018 to January 2021. All patients were divided into observation group (A) and control group (B). A was chronic heart failure complicated with type 2 diabetes mellitus group. B was chronic heart failure group. The clinical effects of the two groups were observed.

Results

Compared with the clinical indexes during and after operation, there were differences in operation time, postoperative recovery time, and treatment cost between A and B, but the difference is not significant (all P > 0.05). LVEF cardiac function index score, LVEF score of A compared with B, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The MMSE score and MoCA score of the two groups were compared. Before operation, the MMSE score and MoCA score of A were lower than those of B, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After operation, the MMSE score and MoCA score in B were significantly higher than those in B, but the increasing trend of MMSE score and MoCA score in B was significantly higher than that in A (P < 0.05). Comparison of HAMA score and HAMD score: before operation, the HAMA score and HAMD score were higher in A, but the difference is not significant (P > 0.05). After operation, the scores of HAMA and HAMD in A and B decreased significantly, but the difference is not significant (P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin were the risk factors of cognitive impairment.

Conclusion

Type 2 diabetes mellitus in elderly patients with chronic heart failure will further aggravate cognitive impairment, and type 2 diabetes is an important independent risk factor affecting cognitive function, which accelerates cognitive impairment and significantly reduces the executive ability of elderly patients with chronic heart failure, resulting in a significant decline in patients' ability to understand and apply information.

Antenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease by 3D ultrasonography using spatiotemporal image correlation with HDlive Flow and HDlive Flow silhouette rendering modes

This pictorial review describes the assessment of a great variety of types of congenital heart disease by three-dimensional ultrasonography with spatiotemporal image correlation using HDlive and the HDlive Flow silhouette rendering mode. These technologies provide fetal heart surface patterns by using a fixed virtual light source that propagates into the tissues, permitting a detailed reconstruction of the heart structures. In this scenario, ultrasound operators can freely select a better light source position to enhance the anatomical details of the fetal heart. HDlive and the HDlive Flow silhouette rendering mode improve depth perception and the resolution of anatomic cardiac details and blood vessel walls compared to standard two-dimensional ultrasonography.

Metrics used to evaluate obstetric ultrasound skills on simulators: A systematic review

Obstetric ultrasound simulators are now used for training and evaluating OB/GYN students but there is a lack of literature about evaluation metrics in this setting. In this literature review, we searched MEDLINE and the COCHRANE database using the keywords: (Obstetric OR Fetal) AND (Sonography OR Ultrasound) AND Simulation. Of a total of 263 studies screened, we selected nine articles from the title and the abstract in PubMed, in the past 5 years. Two more article were added from bibliographies. A total of 11 articles were therefore included. from which nine articles were selected from the title and the abstract in PubMed. Two more articles were added from the bibliographies For each study, data about the type of simulation, and the metrics (qualitative or quantitative) used for assessment were collected. The selection of studies shows that evaluation criteria for ultrasound training were qualitative metrics (binary success/fail exercise ; dexterity quoted by an external observer ; Objective Structured Assessment of Ultrasound Skills (OSAUS) Score ; quality of images according to Salomon's score) or quantitative criteria (Accuracy of Biometry - Simulator generated metrics). Most studies used a combination of both. To date, simulator metrics used to discriminate ultrasound skills are performance score quoted by external observers and image quality scoring. Whether probe trajectory metrics can be used to discriminate skills is unknown.