Echocardiographic evaluation of atrial function after Senning and Mustard correction for transposition of the great arteries.

Two groups of six children who had undergone either Senning or Mustard repair for uncomplicated transposition of the great arteries were studied with M mode echocardiography derived from a phased array sector scanner picture. The newly created atria were visualised from the subxiphoid region and the upper systemic venous inflow was selected for a simultaneous M mode registration with a subsequent wall motion analysis with a commercially available computer. In the Mustard group of patients the atrial walls seemed to move passively with the overall heart movements, while abrupt atrial wall excursions of both atria synchronous with heart action were noted in all patients after Senning repair. In this group also slow cyclic changes followed respiration. The atrial wall movements were significantly superior (p = 0.001) in the Senning group of patients. It is concluded that, in contrast to the Mustard method, the Senning operation seems to lead to a viable atrium with the capability of increasing and diminishing atrial diameter and with subsequent potential for growth.