Double-chambered right ventricle in an adult patient diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography

Cardiovasc Ultrasound. 2007 Jan 4:5:2. doi: 10.1186/1476-7120-5-2.

Abstract

Background: Double-chambered right ventricle is a rare congenital disease frequently misdiagnosed in the adult patient. An anomalous muscle band divides the right ventricle in two cavities causing variable degree of obstruction. Although echocardiography is considered a useful method for the diagnosis of this pathology in children, it has been recognized the transthoracic scanning limitation in adults.

Case presentation: A 29 year-old patient with double-chambered right ventricle presenting mild exercise intolerance referred for follow up of a known ventricular septal defect in whom a complete diagnosis was obtained based only on transthoracic two dimensional echocardiography without the needing of cardiac catheterization.

Conclusion: Based on non invasive echocardiographic diagnosis, patient was referred to surgical correction, which was completely successful.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Echocardiography*
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / surgery
  • Heart Ventricles
  • Humans
  • Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular / diagnostic imaging
  • Male