Rashkind procedure		A balloon atrial septostomy performed as a palliative procedure in children with d-TGA. (Rashkind WJ, Miller WW. Creation of an atrial septal defect without thoracotomy: a palliative approach to complete transposition of the great arteries. JAMA 1966;196:991-992.)
Rastelli procedure (operation)		An operation for repair of complete transposition of the great arteries in association with a large VSD and pulmonic stenosis, wherein a communication is established between the LV and the aorta via the VSD using a baffle within the RV. The RV is connected to the pulmonary artery using a valved conduit, and the LV-PA connection is obliterated. As a consequence, the left ventricle supports the systemic circulation. (Rastelli GC et al. Anatomic correction of transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect and subpulmonary stenosis. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1969;58:545-552.)
regional referral centre (RRC)		A centre for the care of adult patients with CHD, incorporating, at a minimum, cardiology staff with special skills, training, and experience in the management of such patients, and highly skilled echocardiographers.
restrictive right ventricular physiology		Physiologic behaviour of the ventricles of some patients e.g. after repair of tetralogy of Fallot. It may be defined by echocardiography as antegrade pulmonary artery flow in late diastole (a-wave) through all phases of respiration. The pulsed recordings are obtained with the sample volume at the midpoint between the pulmonary valve cusps or remnants and the pulmonary artery bifurcation. (Redington AN et al. Antegrade diastolic pulmonary artery flow as a marker of right ventricular restriction after complete repair of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum and critical pulmonary valve stenosis. Cardiol Young 1992;2:382-386.)
restrictive VSD		see ventricular septal defect.
right aortic arch		see aortic arch anomalies.
right ventricular dysplasia		see Uhl anomaly.
Ross procedure		A method of aortic valve replacement involving autograft transplantation of the pulmonary valve, annulus and trunk into the aortic position, with reimplantation of the coronary ostia into the neo-aorta. The RVOT is reconstructed with a homograft conduit. (Ross DN. Replacement of aortic valve with a pulmonary autograft. Lancet 1967;2:956-958.) (Ross D. Pulmonary valve autotransplantation [the Ross operation]. J Cardiac Surg 1988;3:313-319.)
rubella syndrome		A wide spectrum of malformations caused by rubella infection early in pregnancy, including cataracts, retinopathy, deafness, congenital heart disease, bone lesions, mental retardation, etc. The spectrum of congenital heart lesions is wide and includes pulmonary artery stenosis, patent ductus arteriosus, tetralogy of Fallot, and ventricular septal defect.
RV infundibulum		A normal connecting segment between the body of the RV and the pulmonary artery. syn. RV conus. see also infundibulum.
RVOTO		Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction.