Criss-cross heart: Transthoracic echocardiographic features

Objective To study the echocardiographic features of criss-cross heart (CCH), a congenital cardiac anomaly characterized by crossed ventricular inflow streams, in Indian patients. Methods In this retrospective observational study, all pediatric echocardiograms performed in a single tertiary care institution in South India over a three-year period were scrutinized for a diagnosis of CCH. Demographic, clinical and echocardiographic data were collected from patients’ medical records and echocardiographic database. Crossed ventricular inflow streams was identified when there was inability to visualize both atrio-ventricular valves in a single imaging plane in cardiac four chamber view. Results CCH was diagnosed in five patients from 10,500 pediatric echocardiographic studies. The age at diagnosis ranged from one month to 8 years. Cyanosis was present in all but one of the five cases. Crossed ventricular inflow streams was present by definition in all cases, whereas superior-inferior ventricular relationship was present in only three cases. All cases were associated with ventricular septal defects. Atrio-ventricular discordance was seen in three cases and concordance in two. Ventriculo-arterial discordance was seen in three cases, concordance in one and double outlet right ventricle in one. Three cases had pulmonary stenosis and the other two had pulmonary arterial hypertension. Straddling of AV valve was observed in four cases and hypoplastic aortic arch in one case. Conclusion CCH is an extremely rare congenital cardiac anomaly. Superior-inferior ventricular relationship often co-exists with CCH, but is not necessarily present in all cases. CCH requires early diagnosis because of its common association with diverse cardiac anomalies.

Criss-cross con concordancia aurícular-ventricular y discordancia ventrículo-arterial: presentación clínica / Criss-cross with atrioventricular concordance and ventriculoarterial discordance: clinical presentation

El corazón con entrecruzamiento de la circulación venosa pulmonar y sistémica a nivel auriculoventricular, denominada criss-cross, puede coexistir en presencia de situs solitus o situs inversus con concordancia o discordancia aurículo-ventricular dependiendo de la rotación cardíaca sobre el eje longitudinal ventricular, a favor o en contra de las manecillas del reloj. Presentamos el caso clínico de un lactante menor masculino con diagnóstico de corazón en criss-cross con concordancia aurículo-ventricular y discordancia ventrículo-arterial que ingresó a nuestro centro con disnea y cianosis. En un primer abordaje se le practica atrioseptostomía quirúrgica, sin embargo, en su evolución intrahospitalaria presenta falla cardíaca global refractaria a tratamiento convencional, por lo cual es llevado a nuevamente a cirugía donde se le realiza intervención de Damus-Kaye-Stansel. En el presente artículo se analizan los detalles de la evaluación ecocardiográfica, el cateterismo cardíaco, la resonancia magnética cardíaca y se plantean las opciones quirúrgicas de esta fascinante entidad patológica.

A heart with cross circulation (criss – cross) can coexist in the presence of situs solitus or situs inversus, with atrioventricular concordance or discordance, depending on the cardiac rotation over the ventricular longitudinal axis, clockwise or clock counterwise. This is the presentation of the clinical case of a male lactant, with diagnosis of criss–cross heart with atrioventricular concordance and ventriculoarterial discordance, who was admitted to these facilities with dyspnoea and cyanosis. In a first approach, a surgical atrioseptectomy was performed on the patient. However, in his intrahospitalary evolution, the patient had a global heart failure refractory to conventional treatment, causing his admission into the operating room for surgery, where the Damus–Kaye–Stensel procedure was performed on him. This article presents an analysis of the details of the echocardiographic evaluation, the cardiac catheterization, and the cardiac magnetic resonance of the clinical case, raising the surgical options for this fascinating pathological entity.

Double Outlet of Right Ventricle in Criss-Cross Heart: Surgical Experience of One Case / 대한흉부외과학회지

Criss-cross heart which is a cardiac malformation caused by abnormal rotation of the ventricles early in embryonic development, is rare but a double outlet of right ventricle in criss-cross heart is very rare. We experienced a case of criss-cross heart which is situs solitus, concordant atrioventricular connection and double outlet of right ventricle with remote ventricular septal defect of perimembranous inlet type. A 4-years old female was diagnosed as a double outlet of right ventricle in criss-cross heart after echocardiography, cardiac catheterization and cardiac angiography. The surgical correction was a intraventricular reconstruction of left ventricular outflow with 3/4 circle of 20 mm Hemashield vascular graft from the ventricular septal defect to the aorta. The patient had a temporary atrioventricular block but was recovered uneventfully, and a postoperative echocardiogram showed no left ventricular outflow obstruction, no intracardiac shunt.