Gemma Price

Ventricular Septal Defect

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common congenital cardiac anomaly in children and is the second most common congenital abnormality in adults, second only to a bicuspid aortic valve. An abnormal communication between the right and left ventricles and shunt formation is the main mechanism of hemodynamic compromise in VSD. While many VSDs close spontaneously, if they do not, large defects can lead to detrimental complications such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), ventricular dysfunction and an increased risk of arrhythmias.It was first identified by Dalrymple in the year 1847.

Coarctation of the Aorta

Describe the location and degree of the stenotic region (often focal)/length of coarctation segment.

Double Outlet Right Ventricle

Note great vessel arrangement – normal with sub-Ao VSD (Fallot type), anterior Ao with sub-pulmonary VSD (Taussig Bing type).

Normal Anatomy-Axial

The transverse or axial plane is useful for studying morphology and the relationships of the four cardiac chambers and the pericardium.

Imaging Planes-Branch PAs

The branch PAs (RPA and LPA) do not lie in the same axial plane (LPA is slightly superior to the RPA).

Normal Anatomy-Sagittal

Saggital images can be used to study the connections between the ventricles and the grea vessels.

MR Imaging Under GA

Practice varies throughout the world. However, most centres in the UK will perform cardiovascular MR under general anaesthetic (GA) for children under the age of 7 years.

Imaging Planes-Coronary Arteries

MR coronary angiography is performed from alignment of a narrow 3D volume along the length of each vessel.

Normal Anatomy-Coronal

Frontal or coronal images are most useful for investigation of the LVOT, of the left atrium, and the pulmonary veins.

Common Arterial Trunk

For non-repaired common arterial trunk delineate morphological sub-types: Type 1 PAs arise from main PA segment (usually left lateral aspect) Type 2 RPA & LPA arise from posterior wall of common trunk Type 3 RPA & LPA arise from lateral wall of common trunk