Abnormalities in aortic arch geometry do not lead to reduced exercise performance: a comparison study between patients with transposition of the great arteries repaired by arterial switch operation and normal controls

Background Abnormal aortic arch geometry, in particular the ‘gothic arch’, has been associated with reduced exercise performance in patients with repaired aortic coarctation. Following the arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries (TGA), the morphology of the aorta is also known to be abnormal, presenting with dilated aortic root and ‘gothic’ deformity of the aortic arch. In this study, our aim was to compare aortic geometry between normal and ASO patients to establish if aortic arch shape influenced exercise performance.