Left and right ventriculo-arterial coupling in a patient with congenitally corrected transposition.

The single beat method was used to evaluate right and left ventriculo-arterial coupling in an asymptomatic patient with congenitally corrected transposition. The ratio of ventricular end-systolic to arterial elastances was normal for the left ventricle coupled to the pulmonary circulation, and depressed for the right ventricle coupled to the systemic circulation. This result suggests that chronic uncoupling of the right ventricle to the systemic circulation might play a role in the pathophysiology produced by congenitally corrected transposition.