Two-Dimensional and Doppler Echocardiographic Follow-up after the Arterial Switch Operation for Transposition of the Great Arteries

Summary An echocardiographic follow-up oxamination was performed in 20 children who underwent an arterial switch operation from November 1984 to October 1990. The age at the time of operation ranged from 1 to 54 days, the weight ranged from 2.5 to 4.5 kg body weight. The time interval from the day of operation and the examination ranged from 3 to 74 months. M-mode echocardiography showed hypokinetic left ventricular function in 6 patients (30%). Abnormal segmental left ventricular wall motions were found in 6/16 patients (37.5%). Dopplor echocardiographic examination at the site of the pulmonary anastomosis revealed an instantaneous gradient < 20mmlIg in 9 patients (45%), a gradient between 20 and 60mmllg in 9 patients (45) and a gradient