Abstract
Dilatation of the ascending aorta is an important sequel in conotruncal anomalies, such as tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) or d-transposition of the great arteries (TGA). We measured dimensions and their progression at different levels of the ascending aorta in 80 patients. In TOF patients, mean z-score for aortic annulus was 1.65 (range −3.16–6.47), for sinus 1.93 (range −2.28–5.39), for st-junction 4.15 (range 0.0–8.18), and for ascending aorta 3.51 (range −1.23–6.36). Over time, annulus z-scores increased in the univariate analysis [0.07/year, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.01–0.14; p = 0.02], and this was unique to male patients (0.08/year, 95 % CI 0.00–0.15; p = 0.05). z-scores of the ascending aorta decreased (−0.1/year, 95 % CI −0.18 to −0.02; p = 0.02), and this was confined to patients without aortic regurgitation (AR; −0.09/year, 95 % CI −0.18 to −0.01; p = 0.04). In TGA, mean z-score for the aortic annulus was 2.13 (range −3.71–8.39), for sinus 1.77 (range −3.04–6.69), for st-junction 1.01 (range −5.44–6.71), and for ascending aorta 0.82 (range −4.91–6.46). In bivariate analysis, annulus z-scores decreased in females (−0.14/year, 95 % CI −0.25 to −0.03; p = 0.01) and in patients without AR (−0.07/year, 95 % CI −0.14–0.0; p = 0.03). z-scores of the ascending aorta increased significantly in males (0.08/year, 95 % CI 0.0 to 0.16; p = 0.05) and in patients with AR (0.12/year, 95 % CI 0.03–0.21; p = 0.01). In conclusion, TOF and TGA z-scores of the ascending aorta differ significantly from those of the normal population. Progression of z-scores over time is influenced by diagnosis, sex, and presence of AR.
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Trippel, A., Pallivathukal, S., Pfammatter, JP. et al. Dimensions of the Ascending Aorta in Conotruncal Heart Defects. Pediatr Cardiol 35, 831–837 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-014-0862-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-014-0862-1