THE COMMON CARDIAC VENTRICLE WITH TRANSPOSITION OF THE GREAT VESSELS

Abstract

This report is based on the anatomical study of 26 cases of common ventricle with transposition of the great vessels. These cases were among a collection of about 800 specimens of major malformations of the heart or great vessels. In each specimen the aorta arose from an infundibular chamber located at the basal aspect of the heart anteriorly. The cases were divided into 2 groups depending upon the site of the infundibulum. When the position of the infundibulum approached that of the right centricular infundibulum of normal hearts, it was considered to be "non-inverted": half of the cases fell into this group; in the other half, the infundibulum was in an inverted position. Abnormalities that were additional to common ventricle, with transposition, were found in some. These included pulmonary stenosis or atresia (12), common A-V valve (3), mitral atresia (5), and tricuspid atresia (7). In 11 cases, both A-V valves were present. In the conditions involving the A-V valves there were about 50% with non-inversion and 50% with inversion of the infundibulum. In each of the 3 cases with common A-V valve there was agenesis of the spleen and a "common atrium". Three cases showed juxtaposition of the atrial appendages; in each there was tricuspid atresia and non-inversion of the infundibulum.