Sequential segmental approach to fetal congenital heart disease

The sequential segmental approach is now universally used in the diagnosis of congenital heart disease. Its utilization during fetal sonography has not been well described. In this review we show how the fetal heart can be approached in a sequential segmental manner by using six basic sonographic views. The transverse view of the fetal upper abdomen is obtained to determine the arrangement of the abdominal organs, which, in most cases, provides the important clues to the determination of the atrial arrangement. The four-chamber view is obtained to evaluate the atrioventricular junctions. The views of the left and right ventricular outflow tracts are obtained to evaluate the ventriculoarterial junctions. The three-vessel view and the aortic arch view are obtained for the evaluation of the arrangement and size of the great arteries, which provides the additional clues to the diagnosis of the abnormalities involving the ventriculoarterial junctions and the great arteries. The standard protocol to acquire these six basic views is also introduced.