Search

The arterial switch procedure has become an accepted reparative technique for transposition of the great arteries with or without ventricular septal defect. In this study the accuracy of prospective noninvasive imaging in detecting arterial tract obstruction and the prevalence and severity of arterial valvular regurgitation (as assessed by Doppler ultrasound) were evaluated in survivors of arterial repair. All 53 study patients underwent two-dimensional echocardiographic examination 2 days to 20 months (median 7 months) postoperatively; 43 patients also had pulsed and continuous wave Doppler studies. The accuracy of the noninvasive evaluation of arterial tract obstruction was determined by comparison of Doppler maximal instantaneous gradients with peak to peak gradients at nonsimultaneous catheterization in 26 patients.