Diagnosis and outcome in congenital ventricular diverticulum and aneurysm

ObjectiveTrue congenital ventricular diverticulum and aneurysm in children are very uncommon. We report our experience to clarify the diagnosis and outcome of these little-known entities.MethodsTwenty-two patients with congenital ventricular outpouchings were identified in our database from 1973 to 2004. Morphologic characteristics (localization, connection to a ventricle, contractility), histologic findings, and cardiac and/or extracardiac abnormalities were analyzed in all 22 patients. Cardiovascular events and clinical courses were reviewed.ResultsCongenital ventricular diverticula (n = 16) were characterized by synchronal contractility and three myocardial layers on histologic examination. Two categories of congenital ventricular diverticulum could be identified with regard to their localization: apical and nonapical. Apical diverticula (n = 8) were always associated with midline thoracoabdominal defects and other heart malformations. Nonapical diverticula (n = 8) were always isolated defects. Congenital ventricular aneurysms (n = 6) were characterized by akinesis with paradoxical systolic motion, wide connection to the ventricle, fibrosis on histologic examination that appeared with high signal on T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging, and absence of other heart or midline thoracoabdominal defects. The outcome was different in these two types of outpouchings: congential ventricular aneurysms were associated with adverse outcomes whereas the prognosis for congenital ventricular diverticula was good.ConclusionCongenital ventricular diverticulum and aneurysm are two distinct entities, with different histologic and morphologic characteristics and outcomes. Assessment of these differential characteristics is of importance for prenatal counseling

0228: Impact of the precision of prenatal diagnostic of congenital heart diseases on perinatal and long-term management

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of precising prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart diseases (CHD) on perinatal and long-term management.MethodsOver a 10-year period, 1258 neonates with a prenatally diagnosed CHD and 189 fetal autopsies after termination of pregnancy were included. Changes in CHD diagnosis were classified as totally different, similar but leading to changes in neonatal management, and similar without changes on initial management. The impact on long-term outcome was considered negative if the final diagnosis was a more complex CHD precluding the planned biventricular repair, or if additional surgical interventions were needed, or if the complexity level of the Aristotle score was increased. The impact on outcome was considered positive if biventricular repair was possible while not planned prenatally, or if the number of surgical interventions was reduced, or if the complexity level of the Aristotle score was lower.ResultsThe post-natal diagnosis was imprecise in 30.2% of the cases: completely different in 2.9%, led to changes in initial management in 8%, and did not affect initial management in 19.3%. Imprecision in the prenatal diagnosis had a negative impact on long-term outcome in 4.9% of the cases, and a positive impact in 4.1%.In the fetal autopsy group (mean term 26 weeks), the diagnosis was imprecise in 54.5% of the cases: completely different in 8.5%, could have led to changes in postnatal management in 14.3%, and with minor differences that would not have led to changes in management in 31.7%. In both groups, the most frequent differences were anomalies of the outflow tract anatomy (43%), and the systemic or pulmonary veins (25%).ConclusionImprecision of prenatal diagnosis of CHD changes early management in 11% of the cases, and impacts long-term outcome in 9% of the cases. Improvement of CHD diagnosis for anatomy of the outflow tract and main veins should help to reduce impact on postnatal management and outcome