Flow-sensitive four-dimensional (4D) magnetic resonance imaging reveals abnormal blood flow pattern in the aorta and pulmonary trunk of patients with transposition of the great arteries operated with atrial baffle switch

Results There were clear differences in blood flow patterns between healthy volunteers and TGA patients in both the pulmonary trunk and the aorta. In healthy volunteers, flow was laminar, parabolic in the pulmonary trunk and showed left helical flow pattern in the aorta. In TGA patients we observed opposite flow patterns with predominant parabolic flow in the aorta but helical flow and vortex formation in the pulmonary trunk. Conclusions There are abnormal flow profiles in the aorta and pulmonary trunk in TGA patients. The data of this study provides evidence that differences in left and right ventricular cardio-mechanics directly translate into different flow patterns.