Exploring the Heart's Shape in Kids with Double Inlet Right Ventricle: A CT Scan Study

Doctors used a special kind of CT scan to look at the hearts of kids with a condition called double inlet right ventricle (DIRV). This condition is a bit like having one strong chamber in the heart instead of two. They wanted to see what the inside of these hearts looked like and if there were any other heart problems going on. The study looked at kids from 2014 to 2023. They found that 41 kids had DIRV, with most being boys. Some had hearts that looked a bit like a mirror image, while others had different heart parts that were too small. Nearly all had a hole between their heart chambers and some had problems with how blood flowed to their lungs. This information is important for doctors to know before they operate on these kids. The CT scan helped them see all the details of the heart, which can make the operation go smoother.