Three-dimensional analysis of regional right ventricular shape and function in repaired tetralogy of Fallot using...

Patients with surgically repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) often have residual pulmonic valve regurgitation, leading to abnormal remodeling and dysfunction of the right ventricle often requiring pulmonic valve replacement. We tested the hypothesis that 3D analysis of right ventricular (RV) shape and function may reveal differences in regional adaptive remodeling that occurs in patients with rTOF, depending on whether a transannular patch (TAP) was utilized.

Forty patients with rTOF who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (1.5 T), including 20 with and 20 without TAP, and 10 normal controls were studied. Images were analyzed to measure RV endocardial curvature and global and regional volume and function.

RV ejection fraction (EF) was 42 ± 11% in TAP and 38 ± 9% in no-TAP (p = 0.19), both lower than 54 ± 3% in controls (p < 0.01). Left ventricular (LV) EF was 54 ± 9% in TAP, 54 ± 8% in no-TAP (p = 0.87) and 61 ± 16% in controls (both p < 0.01). Indexed LV end-diastolic volumes were higher in no-TAP than in TAP subgroup (p = 0.02). With TAP, mid RV septum showed lower curvature during diastole (less convex), than the mid and apical free walls and free wall adjacent to the RV outflow tract (RVOT; more convex). There were no differences in curvature during systole between rTOF subgroups but mid and RVOT free walls showed higher curvature versus controls.

This is the first study to comprehensively describe the influence of TAP on changes in regional RV shape in patients with rTOF. Understanding these differences may help guide therapeutic options for residual pulmonary valve regurgitation in rTOF patients.