The hemodynamics of common (or single) ventricle.

Anatomic In this paper a common (single) ventricle is defined as a ventricular chamber that receives the input of blood from both atrioventricular valves either separately or as a common atrioventricular valve" 2 (fig. 1). This common ventricular chamber may or may not communicate with a secondary, smaller outflow chamber. The two great vessels (aorta and pulmonary artery) may arise from the common ventricular chamber or, more frequently, one vessel may arise from the common ventricular chamber and the other vessel from the smaller outflow chamber.' A case has been reported in which apparently neither great vessel arose from the smaller chamber.3 In the presence of transposition of the great vessels, if the aorta lies to the left of the pulmonary artery, the term "levo" or "L-transposition" is used, and, if the aorta lies to the right of the pulmonary artery, the term "dextro" or "D-transposition" is used' (fig. 1).