Myocardial perfusion and exercise capacity 12 years after arterial switch surgery for D-transposition of the great arteries

Pediatr Cardiol. 2011 Aug;32(6):785-91. doi: 10.1007/s00246-011-9975-y. Epub 2011 Apr 11.

Abstract

Peak exercise myocardial perfusion was evaluated in patients with D-transposition of the great arteries 12 years after the arterial switch operation (SWITCH) to evaluate coronary perfusion. Gas-exchange measurements were used to assess cardiac limiting factors to exercise capacity in SWITCH patients when compared to healthy gender-matched controls (CON). Peak myocardial perfusion was evaluated in 42 patients 12 years post-SWITCH, using technetium-99 m (Tetrofosmin). SWITCH exercise data was compared to 42 gender-matched controls (CON). One symptomatic and one asymptomatic SWITCH patient had abnormal exercise myocardial perfusion; both patients had variant coronary anatomy preoperatively. SWITCH patients had lower VO(2peak) (p < 0.01), peak heart rates (p = 0.01), percentages of age-predicted peak heart rates (p < 0.01), and peak oxygen pulses indexed to body surface area (p < 0.01) than CON patients. Exercise testing with myocardial perfusion imaging helped to identify the rare SWITCH patient with coronary insufficiencies. This study demonstrates that exercise testing with myocardial perfusion scans can help identify patients at risk for myocardial events. This study also demonstrated that SWITCH patients have a mildly diminished VO(2peak) when compared to CON patients.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Coronary Circulation*
  • Exercise Tolerance / physiology*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / methods
  • Myocardium / metabolism*
  • Oxygen Consumption / physiology*
  • Postoperative Period
  • Time Factors
  • Transposition of Great Vessels / metabolism
  • Transposition of Great Vessels / physiopathology
  • Transposition of Great Vessels / surgery*
  • Treatment Outcome