Mode
Text Size
Log in / Sign up

Review of two cases and three literature reports on prenatal double-chambered right ventricle outcomesPrenatal diagnosis of double-chambered right ventricle linked to successful pregnancies

AI-generated summary of the cited source, checked by automated accuracy review. How we work

Key Takeaway
Note that only three prenatal DCRV cases exist, with mixed outcomes.

This publication is a review and case report focusing on the prenatal diagnosis of double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV). The scope includes a detailed discussion of two cases of type 1 DCRV and a review of three previously reported cases diagnosed prenatally. The setting involves antenatal diagnosis, with pregnancy outcomes serving as the primary outcome of interest.

The two cases discussed in detail demonstrated successful pregnancy outcomes. In contrast, the three previously reported cases associated with unfavorable pregnancy outcomes were included for comparison. Echocardiographic criteria such as tricuspid regurgitation, pulmonary blood flow velocity, and pressure differences were evaluated as secondary outcomes, though specific numerical results for these criteria were not reported in the provided data.

A key limitation acknowledged by the authors is that only three cases diagnosed prenatally have been reported in the literature to date. Consequently, the findings from two cases cannot be generalized to the broader population. Safety data, including adverse events and tolerability, were not reported for the cases discussed.

Practice relevance is not explicitly defined in the source text. Clinicians should interpret these findings cautiously given the small sample size and the disparity between the two successful cases and the three unfavorable historical cases.

This review and case report looked at two pregnancies where the fetus had a type 1 double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV), a rare heart condition. The report also reviewed three earlier cases that were diagnosed before birth. The two new cases had successful pregnancy outcomes, while the three previously reported cases had unfavorable outcomes.

The study focused on pregnancies diagnosed prenatally and used echocardiographic criteria like tricuspid regurgitation and blood flow velocity to assess the condition. No safety concerns were reported for the two new cases, as the focus was on pregnancy outcomes.

The main reason to be careful is that this is based on only two detailed cases and a review of three others, so the findings are very limited and not generalizable to all pregnancies with DCRV. The report does not show that prenatal diagnosis causes better outcomes, only that a link was observed in these few cases.

Readers should understand that this is early, limited evidence from a small number of cases. It suggests that prenatal diagnosis may be associated with monitoring and planning, but more research is needed to know the true impact for most families.

What this means for you:
Two pregnancies with a rare heart condition had successful outcomes after prenatal diagnosis, but evidence is very limited.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedApr 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
Double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is defined as the progressive division of the right ventricle into two chambers: a high-pressure inlet chamber and a low-pressure outlet chamber. To date, only three cases diagnosed prenatally have been reported in the literature, all of which were associated with unfavorable pregnancy outcomes. In this study, we discuss DCRV in general, along with two cases of type 1 DCRV that did not cause hemodynamically significant obstruction and resulted in successful pregnancy outcomes. From a hemodynamic perspective, the following echocardiographic criteria may affect the prenatal fetal process: (1) detection of tricuspid regurgitation on echocardiography; and (2) pulmonary blood flow velocity and the difference in pressure between the proximal and distal right ventricle.
Free Newsletter

Clinical research that matters. Delivered to your inbox.

Join thousands of clinicians and researchers. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.