Prenatally Diagnosed Congenital Ventricular Outpouchings: An Institutional Experience and Review of the Literature

Congenital giant left ventricular aneurysm

We report a case of congenital giant left ventricular aneurysm with severely depressed systolic cardiac function who underwent early surgical resection with subsequent recovery of left ventricular systolic function.

Characteristics and outcomes of fetal ventricular aneurysm and diverticulum: combining the use of a new technique, fetal HQ

Objectives

Congenital ventricular aneurysms or diverticulum (VA/VD) are rare cardiac anomalies with lack prenatal evaluation data. The present study aimed to provide the prenatal characteristics and outcomes from a tertiary center and the use of new techniques to evaluate the shape and contractility of these fetuses.

Methods

Ten fetuses were diagnosed with VA or VD, and 30 control fetuses were enrolled. Fetal echocardiography was performed to make the diagnosis. The prenatal echo characteristics and follow-up data were carefully reviewed. The shape and contractility measurements of the four-chamber view (4CV) and both ventricles were measured and computed using fetal fetal heart quantification (HQ).

Results

A total of 10 fetuses were enrolled, including 4 cases of left ventricular diverticulum, 5 cases of left ventricular aneurysm, and 1 case of right ventricular aneurysm (RVA). Four cases chose to terminate the pregnancy. The RVA was associated with a perimembranous ventricular septal defect. Two cases had fetal arrhythmia, and one case had pericardial effusion. After birth, one case underwent surgical resection at five years old. The 4CV global sphericity index (SI) of free-wall located ventricular outpouching (VO) was significantly lower than the apical ones and the control group (p < 0.01). Four of five apical left VOs had significant higher (>95th centile) SI in base segments, and three of four left VOs in the free-wall had significant lower (< 5th centile) SI in the majority of 24 segments. Compared to the control group, the left ventricle (LV) global longitudinal strain, ejection fraction, and fractional area change were significantly decreased (p < 0.01), while the LV cardiac output of the cases was in the normal range. The transverse fraction shortening of the affected segments of ventricles was significantly lower than the other ventricle segments (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Fetal HQ is a promising technique to evaluate the shape and contractility of congenital ventricular aneurysm and diverticulum.

[Ventricular diverticulum in Cantrell´s pentalogy: rare but not isolated entities]

Pentalogy of Cantrell is a rare entity characterized by a combination of alterations, among which the following stand out: defects of the pericardium, heart, diaphragm, lower third of sternum and abdominal wall. On the other hand, congenital cardiac diverticulum is a rare malformation whose presentation is associated with Cantrell's pentalogy in some cases. We present the case of a child with Cantrell's pentalogy who, during follow-up, was diagnosed with left ventricular diverticulum, which required surgical management with a favorable outcome. Addressing these conditions requires the use of cardiovascular images that allow timely decision-making by the treating team.

Congenital Aneurysm/Diverticulum of the Left Ventricle in the Newborn

Left ventricular aneurysms and diverticula are severe congenital heart defects. The low prevalence and mostly asymptomatic course of these anomalies do not always allow us to suspect these defects in time and to differentiate them among themselves. That is why early detection of pathology with the help of fetal echocardiography is a key factor in determination of the tactics of patients’ management. The paper reviews the literature and describes a complex case of prenatally diagnosed left ventricular aneurysm.

A Japanese Patient with Genitopatellar Syndrome Transiently Presenting with Cardiac Intramural Cavity during the Neonatal Period

Genitopatellar syndrome (GPS) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by de novo pathogenic variants in the KAT6B gene. It is characterized by genital abnormalities, patellar hypoplasia/agenesis, flexion contractures of the hips and knees, corpus callosum agenesis with microcephaly, and hydronephrosis and/or multiple renal cysts. More than half of patients with GPS have congenital heart defects, mostly atrial and/or ventricular septal defects, patent foramen ovale, and patent ductus arteriosus. We report a case of a Japanese neonate with a de novo heterozygous c.3769_3772delTCTA pathogenic variant in the KAT6B gene who presented with a cardiac intramural cavity of the ventricular septum at birth. The cavity unexpectedly disappeared at 1 month of age, but trabecular septal thinning and flash remained. The features of the cavity were not consistent with those of congenital ventricular diverticulum or aneurysm, and its identity and prognosis are still unclear. Because patients with GPS may exhibit various forms of cardiac malformation, careful cardiac examination and follow-up are required from birth in cases of suspected GPS.