Abstract 4146225: Stress Perfusion Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Pediatric Patients with Repaired Transposition of the Great Arteries

Introduction: Patients who underwent arterial switch operation (ASO) for d-transposition of the great arteries (TGA) are at increased risk for early myocardial ischemia. Stress perfusion cardiac MR (SPCMR) is used as a non-invasive tool for risk stratification but interpretation is often challenging. Hypothesis: There is significant interobserver variability in SPCMR image interpretation in patients with repaired TGA. Aims: 1. Determine incidence and severity of adverse effects of stress agents. 2. Evaluate incidence of positive SPCMR. 3. Assess agreement amongst reviewers in image interpretation. Methods: Patients with repaired TGA with SPCMR imaging from 2013 to 2024 were reviewed. Three patients with previous coronary intervention and one with severe chest pain after adenosine, unable to complete SPCMR, were excluded. 61 studies were performed in 56 patients. Images were independently reviewed by two investigators blinded to initial interpretation and clinical outcome. Perfusion defects were displayed on a circumferential polar plot using standard LV segmentation. Results: Median (IQR) age was 15 (11-17) years, weight 55 (36-68) kg, and BSA 1.6 (1.2-1.8) m2. Max heart rate was 110 (100-125) and systolic BP 127 (116-138). Eleven (20%) patients had cardiac symptoms, chest pain in 9 (16%), syncope in 1 (2%), pallor and distress in 1 (2%) infant. Adverse effects from SPCMR in 8/52 (15%) adenosine, 2/4 (50%) dobutamine, and 0/6 (0%) regadenoson were minor and resolved on stress completion. Six (10%) studies were initially interpreted as suspicious (n=5) or definitive (n=1) perfusion defect (Figure). No LGE was detected. Original interpretation did not match blinded reviews for 6 cases (Figure). Blinded reviewers agreed on 3 negative cases but interpretation differed in the other 3 cases (Figure). Conclusions: SPCMR is safe and feasible. Significant interobserver variability highlights the challenges in qualitative SPCMR interpretation for TGA. Quantitative perfusion may reduce interobserver variability. Larger multicenter studies would be helpful in further elucidating the risk profile of patient characteristics and coronary artery arrangements to determine whether routine use of SPCMR is warranted for TGA patients.