Introduction
hypoplastic left heart syndrome, valve regurgitation, congenital heart disease
HYPOPLASTIC LEFT HEART SYNDROME
The Single Ventricle Reconstruction (SVR) Trial was the first of its kind—a prospective randomized trial in congenital heart surgery designed to evaluate the effect of systemic to pulmonary shunt type on short-term survival [Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is the gold standard for the assessment of right and left ventricular function and myocardial viability in congenital heart disease due to its superior blood-tissue contrast, 3-dimensional imaging, and quantification of blood flow, valve regurgitation, and chamber volumes [Given the inherent advantages of CMR for assessment of RV function, the SVR III trial was designed with right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) by CMR as the primary outcome measure. Taking into account the improvements over time in the use of CMR in younger children, this specific protocol was designed to overcome concerns regarding the feasibility of using CMR data as the prospective outcome of a clinical trial in 10–12-year-olds with hypoplastic left heart syndrome who have undergone Fontan operations. The objective of this report is to provide a detailed, modern assessment of the use and limitations of CMR in this prospective research setting.