Malalignment-type ventricular septal defect in double-chambered right ventricle.

Double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is commonly associated with ventricular septal defect (VSD). In this study, an assessment was made of the relevance of a malalignment-type VSD to hemodynamic and morphologic features in DCRV. During an 8.5-year period, 53 patients with DCRV were enrolled after study with echocardiography, catheterization, and angiography. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group I included 40 patients, aged 3.7 +/- 3.2 years, with a malalignment-type VSD; group II consisted of 13 patients, aged 8.6 +/- 2.7 years, without a malalignment-type VSD. History of congestive heart failure in infancy was present in 21 group I and 2 group II patients (53% vs 15%, respectively, p <0.05). The mean pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio was significantly higher in group I than in group II (1.89 +/- 0.74 vs 1.14 +/- 0.21, respectively, p <0.05). The mean pressure gradient across the right ventricular outflow tract was lower in group I than in group II (41 +/- 16 vs, 73 +/- 33 mm Hg, respectively, p <0.05). Among 42 patients who had a series of echocardiograms recorded, progression of pressure gradient was evident in 35: 28 in group I and 7 in group II. A subaortic ridge was present exclusively in 29 group I patients (73%). Prolapse of the aortic valve was present in 26 (49%): 20 group I (50%) and 6 group II (46%) patients. Aneurysm formation of the septal defect was found in 17 (43%) and 7 (54%) group I and II patients, respectively. It can be concluded that a history of congestive heart failure was more common in DCRV patients with a malalignment-type VSD. Malalignment-type VSD is significantly associated with a larger pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio and subaortic ridge.