Isolated ventricular inversion with situs solitus

Abstract

The clinical and anatomical findings in 2 patients with isolated ventricular inversion and situs solitus are described. The other 4 previously published cases are reviewed. The 6 patients with this malformation, all without pulmonary stenosis, presented a clinical picture of cyanotic congenital heart disease, associated with increased pulmonary blood flow (hypoxemia and cardiac failure). The importance of different diagnostic tests is discussed and it is concluded that angiocardiography is the only definitive means of establishing the diagnosis. Because the physiopathologic disturbance is the same as in transposition of the great arteries, both malformations should be similarly considered with respect to diagnosis and treatment. Nevertheless, the high incidence of certain associated malformations in cases of isolated ventricular inversion adds to difficulty in diagnosis, and makes a good result from the Mustard procedure less likely than in transposition of the great arteries.