MRI vs echocardiography in the evaluation of the Jatene procedure.

OBJECTIVE

Effective, noninvasive imaging studies are essential in the long-term assessment of patients who have had surgical correction of congenital heart disease. The initial study in most patients is echocardiography. The objective of the current study was to define the additional information that might be provided by MRI in comparison to echocardiography.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Electrocardiogram-gated MRI was used to evaluate 12 patients (mean age 4.5 years) who had undergone the Jatene (arterial switch) procedure for transposition of the great arteries. Magnetic resonance imaging and two-dimensional echocardiography were compared for their ability to demonstrate common complications of this procedure, namely, focal stenoses of the aortic and pulmonary anastomoses, right ventricular outflow tract, and both branch pulmonary arteries.

RESULTS

A total of 24 focal stenoses were detected by MRI and echocardiography. The MR detected 22 of these (92%) and echocardiography detected 14 (58%). Ten of 17 stenoses involving the branch pulmonary arteries were identified only by MR.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that MRI is effective in evaluating post-operative complications of the pulmonary arteries in patients who have undergone the Jatene procedure and can provide information additive to echocardiography in these patients.