Sequential Segmental Approach to Congenital Heart Disease

Abstract

The sequential segmental approach is essential for better understanding of cardiac anatomy in normal and malformed hearts. It is based on a detailed analysis of the three main cardiac segments, namely atria, ventricles, and great vessels, and the two connecting segments, namely atrioventricular and ventriculoarterial connections. Each segment is systematically defined based purely on its morphological characteristics. In most cases, echocardiography is sufficient, but some cases necessitate the use of other imaging modalities. Systematic identification of different segments, connections, and their abnormalities helps in making an accurate diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD). This review provides a brief description of the sequential segmental approach for detecting CHD on echocardiography.