Echocardiographic arterial measurements in complex congenital diseases before bidirectional Glenn: comparison with cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

This study demonstrates modest agreement between echocardiographic and CMR measures of vessel diameter and stenosis detection. Approximately a quarter of all vessel segments could not be measured using echocardiography due to poor image quality, which was significantly lower in non-sedated patients. These findings show that echocardiography cannot substitute CMR for reliable identification of great vessel stenoses in complex patients prior to the BCPC, particularly those with Blalock-Taussig shunts.

The year 2021 in the European Heart Journal: Cardiovascular Imaging Part II

“…The diagnostic accuracy of echocardiographic measures of great vessels in patients before bidirectional cavopulmonary connection (BCPC) was compared with CMR by Krupickova et al 63 They showed that echocardiography cannot substitute CMR for reliable identification of great vessel stenoses in complex patients prior to the BCPC, particularly those with Blalock-Taussig shunts.…”

Multi-institution Assessment of the Accuracy of Cardiac Computed Tomography in Preparation for Superior Cavopulmonary Connection

“…Advanced diagnostics are required for interstage assessment of anatomy since echocardiography is insufficient for evaluation of thoracic vasculature. 1,2 Patients are the most hemodynamically fragile between the first and second stage palliation superior cavopulmonary connection (SCPC) and the risks of sedation and anesthesia required for advanced diagnostic testing is relatively high. 3 This includes adverse events from anesthesia, vascular access complications, and concerns regarding long-term effects of radiation exposure at young ages.…”