Abnormal vortex formation in the right pulmonary artery after the arterial switch operation

Abstract

Transposition of the great arteries (TGAs) is a common cyanotic congenital heart defect, accounting for 5–8% of all congenital heart defects. ¹ Currently, the arterial switch operation (ASO) combined with the LeCompte manoeuvre is the most used surgical procedure to correct TGA. Although pulmonary artery (PA) stenosis is the most common late complication after ASO, ² flow disturbances such as vortex formation can also be observed in patients without obvious PA stenosis. Energy loss (EL) may then be a good marker of an inefficient circulation.