Impact of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in single ventricle physiology: a narrative review.

Abstract

Background and objective: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is a routine cross-sectional imaging modality in adults with congenital heart disease. Developing CMR techniques and the knowledge that CMR is well suited to assess long-term complications and to provide prognostic information for single ventricle (SV) patients makes CMR the ideal assessment tool for this patient cohort. Nevertheless, many of the techniques have not yet been incorporated into day-to-day practice. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of CMR applications in SV patients together with recent scientific findings.

Methods: Articles from 2009 to August 2024 retrieved from PubMed on CMR in SV patients were included. Case reports and non-English literature were excluded.

Key content and findings: CMR is essential for serial follow-up of SV patients and CMR-derived standard markers can improve patient management and prognosis assessment. Advanced CMR techniques likely will enhance our understanding of Fontan hemodynamics and are promising tools for a comprehensive patient evaluation and care.

Conclusions: There is increasing research that shows the advantages of CMR in Fontan patients. However, further research about the prognostic role of CMR in older Fontan patients and how new methods such as modeling and deep learning pipelines can be clinically implemented is warranted.