The mechanics of congenital heart disease: from a morphological trait to the functional echocardiographic evaluation

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Pediatric cardiac surgery advances have led to a growing population of children and young adults with congenital heart diseases (CHDs).
• Congenital defects, surgical interventions, and residual lesions can significantly alter cardiac anatomy and ventricular mechanical performance in CHD patients.
• Cardiac function is a critical determinant of outcomes in CHDs, requiring regular monitoring for clinical changes and risk factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the pivotal role of echocardiography in assessing cardiac mechanics within the context of congenital heart diseases (CHDs).
• To highlight echocardiography's capability in interpreting the complex and varied anatomical substrates characteristic of different CHDs.
• To underscore the importance of understanding unique patient anatomies for effective cardiac function evaluation in CHDs.

Main Methods:

• Review of echocardiographic techniques for evaluating cardiac mechanics in congenital heart diseases.
• Discussion of standard echocardiography, myocardial deformation imaging, and 3D echocardiography applications.
• Emphasis on integrating anatomical understanding with functional assessment in CHDs.

Main Results:

• Echocardiography is the primary imaging modality for CHDs, providing essential insights into cardiac function.
• Myocardial deformation imaging and 3D echocardiography offer enhanced assessment of cardiac function and anatomy.
• Effective echocardiographic evaluation requires consideration of the specific anatomical characteristics of each CHD.

Conclusions:

• Echocardiography is indispensable for evaluating cardiac mechanics in CHDs, adapting to diverse anatomical variations.
• Understanding the interplay between CHD anatomy and cardiac mechanics is vital for patient management and prognosis.
• Advanced echocardiographic methods improve the comprehensive assessment of cardiac function and anatomy in pediatric patients with CHDs.