Evaluation of surgical procedures for cyanotic congenital heart disease by using MR imaging

ECG-gated MR imaging has been shown to be effective for the diagnosis of congenital heart disease. In this study, we assessed its role in the postoperative evaluation of surgical procedures in patients with complex congenital heart disease. MR images of 26 patients with Rastelli (five), Fontan (three), Senning (three), Damus (one), Jatene (eight), Waterston (four), and Potts (two) procedures were evaluated retrospectively. The accuracy of MR imaging was compared with that of angiography in 20 patients. The surgical anastomoses were identified in all patients. Patency, atresia, or hypoplasia of central pulmonary arteries and postoperative complications (focal stenoses of pulmonary arteries, thrombosed conduit, peri-conduit abscess) were shown. Narrowing of the right ventricular outflow tract and focal compression of the proximal pulmonary arteries were recognized as specific complications of the Jatene procedure. MR imaging appears to be effective in the postoperative evaluation of surgical procedures used for congenital heart disease. It should be considered as an alternative to repeated catheterization and angiography for the postoperative examination of children with complex congenital heart disease.