Asymmetric ventricles , with left ventricle smaller than right is seen occasionally.

The following conditions should be thought of  :

1. Co-arctation of Aorta

2. T.A.P.V.D. – Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Drainage ( or Connections )

3.Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava

4.Dilated Coronary Sinus

and rarely due to

5. Restricted Ductal Flow due to kinking of Ductus Arteriosus

6.Primary Myocardiopathy

7.Extra cardiac tumours

Most importantly this could be a normal fetus.

Out of these diagnosing Co-arctation of Aorta and T.A.P.V.D. antenatally could have major implications in prognosis.

Co-arctation of Aorta has the following important features in the ultrasound  :

The 4 chamber view is abnormal – LV is smaller than RV.

The 3 vessel trachea view depicts great vessel disproportion. Pulmonary artery is bigger than aorta .

If a long segment of the aortic arch is narrowed , it is called as tubular hypoplasia.

Associated cardiac anomalies can be seen – VSD , Bicuspid aortic valve , Aortic stenosis and Mitral stenosis.

Persistent left superior vena cava is often associated . Extra cardiac anoamlies – berry aneurysm of the cerebral circulation.

Chromosomal anaomalies especially Turner’s syndrome should be ruled out.

It is always prudent to give a diagnosis of probable Co-Arctation of Aorta .

A case seen sometime back in our centre is presented below. The patient was lost for follow up and the outcome is not known .

The following pictures show that the left ventricle appears smaller than the right ventricle. The situs is normal.

 

Colour flow also rules out  the possibility of hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

 

Aortic arch is progressively narrowed with the isthmus appearing very narrow. A flow reversal is also seen .

 

 

The following picture shows the reversal of flow in the foramen ovale , which according to some authors is a salient diagnostic feature of co-arctation of aorta.

 

The diagnosis offered was PROBABLE CO-ARCTATION OF AORTA .

But the patient was lost for follow up.

A normal 3 vessel view and 4 chamber view are given below.