[Anatomic features of the base of hearts with a solitary ventricle]

Twenty-eight preparations of hearts having three chambers with two atria have been investigated. The age of the deceased was from several hours up to 21 years. Absence of the interventricular septum results in a complex rearrangement of the vessels in the basis cordis. Only in three cases the aorta and the pulmonary trunk situated typically, in others there was a complete transposition. Since the only ventricle, as a rule, is accompanied with a presence of a small chamber--"emissary", the topography of the vessels is mainly determined by the latter. The "emissary" is situated either along the right or left contour of the base of the common ventricle, its dimensions are variable. When the "emissary" is situated along the anterior-right contour of the basis cordis, as a rule, the aorta takes origin from the latter, its bulb is situated ventrally, initial parts of the venous arteries are visible. The cuspides of the aortal valve sag into the "emissary" lumen. When the aorta is situated normally, it can get off the cavity of the common ventricle, or the "emissary". The state of the children is determined first of all by the character of the pulmonary circulation. If there is no stenosis in the pulmonary trunk and it takes its origin from the common ventricle, or from the "emissary" of a great size, the prognosis is more favourable. Cases of early death among the children are connected with small size of the "emissary" chamber and a small diameter of the pulmonary trunk.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)