Computed tomography in terms of transposition of the great arteries

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is one of the most complex congenital heart defects, which requires surgical intervention in the first days after the birth of a child. The article describes a unique clinical case of a patient with TGA who underwent two- stage surgical correction in childhood with long-term complications 30 years after surgery. In the presented clinical case, computed tomography (CT) with contrast and ECG synchronization demonstrated advantages over echocardiography (EchoCG), becoming the determining method for choosing a further treatment strategy. The importance of CT diagnostics was due to the following advantages: three-­dimensional visualization of conduit degeneration (calcification, 72 % stenosis), accurate assessment of right ventricular remodeling, diagnosis of subclinical thrombosis of the distal branches of the pulmonary artery, quantitative analysis of right ventricular function, visualization of collateral circulation, detection of ascites and signs of liver fibrosis. The analysis of the presented clinical observation demonstrates the possibilities of X-ray imaging methods and emphasizes the need to monitor patients after TGA correction.