Insights into the Evolution of Myocardial Dysfunction in the Functionally Single Right Ventricle between Staged Palliations Using Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography

A decline in contractility occurred at the pre-BCPA stage. Although there was evidence of adaptation of the single right ventricle, this failed to resemble the normal left ventricle and may be insufficient to handle the chronic volume load or insult from previous surgery. These findings suggest an intrinsic inability of the single right ventricular myocardium to fully adapt to chronic systemic pressures.