Echocardiographic Assessment of Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease

MP Leung

Hong Kong J Radiol 2002;5:126-31

Echocardiographic imaging of neonates with congenital heart disease should be performed in a systematic manner, using the sequential segmental approach. The initial step involves determining the atrial arrangement, followed by assessment of the atrio-ventricular and ventriculo-arterial connections, and detection of any intracardiac or great arterial abnormalities. Finally, evaluation of systemic and pulmonary venous return to the cardiac chambers is undertaken. The identification of an obvious defect should not limit the systematic search in each segment of the heart for further abnormalities. Only by so doing can one avoid overlooking any potential lesions contributing to disturbed haemodynamic flow.