Equilibrium contrast cardiovascular magnetic resonance shows increased interstitial expansion in the systemic right ventricle of adults late after Mustard or Senning surgery for transposition of the great arteries

Abstract

Summary In this study, we have used equilibium contrast CMR (EQ-CMR) to assess the interstium volume of patients after atrial redirection surgery, finding higher amounts than in healthy volunteers and correlations with known clinical markers of disease. Background After atrial redirection surgery (the Mustard and Senning operations) for transposition of the great arteries (TGA) the systemic right ventricle (RV) suffers from late systolic failure with resultant high morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms of late systemic RV failure are poorly characterised. We hypothesised that diffuse interstitial expansion representing diffuse fibrosis would be greater in the right ventricles of patients following Mustard or Senning surgery and that it would be associated with other markers of heart failure and disease severity in these patients. Methods