Cardiac MRI to evaluate right ventricular function after surgical correction of congenital heart diseases

Abstract

Background: Cardiac MRI (CMR) is a noninvasive imaging technique that plays an important role during clinical follow-up of postoperative CHD patients. MRI can provide valuable information on cardiac anatomy, ventricular function, valvular function, and on the presence and location of myocardial scar tissue. Our study aimed to assess the right ventricular function after surgery in patients with congenital heart diseases & assessment of myocardial viability with particular attention to scar tissue in the ventricular myocardium aside from sites of previous surgery (e.g., ventricular septal defect and right ventricular outflow tract patches). Results: The most common encountered CHD in this study were tetralogy of Fallot &transposition of great arteries. The most common postoperative complication detected by CMR was pulmonary regurgitation particularly in repaired TOF patients. Regarding the RV volume & function, there was statically significant increase in RVEDVI &ESVI in patients with decreased RVEF with good correlation with echocardiographic results. Patients post TGA arterial switch repair showed less complications than atrial switch repair with better RV postoperative function. Most patients showed no residual shunting (QP/QS =1). Conclusion: CMR is able to effectively identify post-procedural anatomical and functional intra- and extracardiac information, thus allowing accurate diagnosis of postoperative complications in most patients.