Congenital, acquired, or both? The only two congenitally based, acquired heart diseases

Nikolaos A Papakonstantinou1, Meletios A Kanakis1, Dimitrios Bobos1

  • 1Department of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.

Insights

Discrete subaortic stenosis (DSS) and double-chambered right ventricle are acquired heart diseases with congenital origins. Both involve outflow tract obstruction and can recur after surgery, sometimes coexisting.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Congenital Heart Disease

Background:

  • Discrete subaortic stenosis (DSS) and double-chambered right ventricle are outflow tract obstructions.
  • These conditions, despite congenital anatomical origins, are classified as acquired developmental heart diseases.
  • Both are often associated with ventricular septal defects and can arise secondary to other cardiac surgeries.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the shared characteristics and pathogenetic mechanisms of DSS and double-chambered right ventricle.
  • To highlight their acquired nature, association with VSDs, and potential for recurrence.
  • To note the reported coexistence of these two conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on discrete subaortic stenosis and double-chambered right ventricle.
  • Analysis of pathogenetic pathways including initial anatomical variations and subsequent hemodynamic changes.
  • Examination of secondary development post-surgical interventions and recurrence rates.

Main Results:

  • Both DSS and double-chambered right ventricle involve outflow tract obstruction and share similar characteristics.
  • Pathogenesis involves initial anatomical abnormalities triggering hemodynamic processes leading to fibroproliferation (DSS) or muscle hypertrophy (double-chambered right ventricle).
  • High recurrence rates, particularly for DSS, and coexistence of both conditions have been reported.

Conclusions:

  • DSS and double-chambered right ventricle represent acquired developmental heart diseases with complex pathogenetic mechanisms.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for managing these conditions, especially given their recurrence and potential coexistence.
  • Further research may elucidate optimal management strategies for these challenging pediatric cardiac malformations.

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