Echo in transposition of the great arteries

Editors-in-Chief: Eli V. Gelfand, MD and Keri Shafer, MD (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA)

Transposition of the Great Arteries
Echocardiogram done in TGA to evaluate:
 * atrioventricular connections
 * atrial morphology: determined by venous return and atrial appendage morphology
 * ventricular morphology:
 * determined by presence of moderator band (right ventricle), trabeculi, valvular morphology, etc.
 * seen best in subcostal, parasternal short axis and apical 4 chamber views
 * presence of outflow obstruction

Though transthoracic echo can provide valuable information, in adults a transesophageal echo (TEE) is usually necessary. Typically, MRI is performed as well.

Consists of two basic types:
 * D-TGA
 * L-TGA otherwise known as congenitally-corrected TGA

D-TGA


Image obtained from:

L-TGA (congenitally-corrected TGA)
Echo series of ccTGA:

LA-RV RA-LV connections

RV-aorta LV-PA connections

For more information please go to Transposition of the great vessels.