Corrected transposition of the great arteries: dynamic three-dimensional echocardiography and volumetry. A new diagnostic tool in intensive care management.

Today, an increasing incidence of severe complications of cardiac malformations in adult patients must be expected since the life expectancy of such individuals is prolonged due to improved management. A 32-year-old woman with corrected transposition of the great arteries (CTGA) was admitted to the intensive care unit because of cardiac decompensation. Information provided by multiplane two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography was not sufficient for an unequivocal explanation of the cardiac decompensation. In CTGA uncommon complications may cause pulmonary edema. Using dynamic three-dimensional echocardiography to reveal function, volume parameters and the morphology of both ventricles and to exclude additional complications may be considered an adequate diagnostic tool for responding to this challenge.