Eisenmenger’s syndrome MRI

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1], Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamavada Singh, MBBS [2], Kristin Feeney, B.S. [3], Abdelrahman Ibrahim Abushouk, MD[4]

Magnetic resonance imaging can be helpful as a diagnostic tool in conditions where the echocardiographic findings are inconclusive. The following can be observed on MRI examination of Eisenmenger’s syndrome patients: Magnitude and direction of the cardiac shunt, reduced systolic function of the cardiac ventricles, and brain diffusion changes on brain MRI.

MRI has the following advantages in the evaluation of adult congenital cardiac disease^[1].

• Useful in cases where echocardiographic results are inconclusive.
• Helps in measuring heart volumes, blood flow and ventricular wall thickness.
• The magnetic resonance angiography helps in better visualization of the cardiac vasculature
• Phase velocity mapping helps in measuring the ratio of pulmonary to systemic blood flow.

• For successful MRI, breath holding is required, which is sometimes difficult to achieve with children.
• Therefore, the procedure is done under general anesthesia in children.

The following can be observed on MRI examination of Eisenmenger’s syndrome patients^[1][2]:

• Magnitude and direction of the cardiac shunt.
• Reduced systolic function of the cardiac ventricles.
• Brain diffusion changes on brain MRI.
  

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