[Presentation form and evolution of double-chambered right ventricle].

INTRODUCTION: The double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is an uncommon congenital heart disease; it represents the 0,5% of these congenital cardiopathies.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of a series of 11 patients.

METHODS: Eleven patients with DCRV were studied. A complete medical history, chest radiograph, electrocardiogram, and transthoracic echocardiography were performed.

RESULTS: The median age of studied patients was 10 years. The 36.45% of cases were asymptomatic and the diagnosis was made by echocardiography. Other cases had weakness during food in the lactancy stage and worsening of NYHA functional class in older children. The echocardiogram showed double-chambered right by a muscular band in all studied patients. The most frequent associated anomalies were: ventricular septal defect, patent foramen ovale, subvalvular aortic stenosis, and Fallot's Tetralogy. Seven patients went to surgical treatment and now 6 of them are in NYHA functional class i.

CONCLUSIONS: This paper has a special importance, because is the biggest series of patients with double-chambered right ventricle in Mexico and the results are comparable to the studies reported in the literature. The worsening of the NYHA functional class was the predominate symptom. The clinical manifestations can be presented from the lactancy to adulthood and the degree of obstruction could have a progressive character. The echocardiography is the method of choice in the diagnosis of these patients. The 91% of patients with DCRV who went to surgical treatment had excellent hemodynamic and functional results in the mid-follow-up.