Longitudinal strain by two-dimensional speckle tracking to assess ventricular function in adults with transposition of the great arteries: Can serial assessment be simplified?

Introduction: Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a rare form of congenital heart disease in which most patients reach adulthood. Right ventricular dysfunction is the most severe residual complication in long-term follow-up, both in patients treated by atrial switch and in those with congenitally corrected TGA. New echocardiographic tools such as longitudinal strain by two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking may improve assessment of ventricular function in these patients. Methods and Results: We performed a retrospective analysis of echocardiograms in adult patients with TGA (26 patients with dextro-TGA – 15 treated by atrial switch and six by arterial switch – and five with congenitally corrected TGA) and in a control group of 14 healthy individuals. Right ventricular strain was significantly worse (p