Congenital heart diseases that are detectable using the three-vessel view

C.G. Herghelegiu, D. Herghelegiu, A. Neacșu, I.D. Suciu, N. Suciu

Rezumat: Congenital heart defects are the most common congenital malformation found in fetuses. The majority of ultrasound screening protocols recommend as mandatory the following views for the examination of the fetal heart: 4 chamber and ventricular outflow tracts. The 3-vessel view alongside its variant, the 3-vessel trachea view, are considered optional planes for routine screening. A series of congenital heart defects are mainly visible and detectable in these two views, so including these views in the screening protocol may be beneficial. We identified three types of congenital heart defects that are usually detected using the 3-vessel and 3-vessel trachea views: aortic coarctation, right aortic arch, and the persistence of left superior vena cava. All three malformations had a characteristic appearance on the aforementioned views. Taking into account the role they have in detecting these specific congenial heart defects, the 3-vessel and 3-vessel trachea view prove their role in evaluating the fetal heart and may improve the detection of ultrasound screening.
Cuvinte cheie: 3-vessel view, conotruncal malformations, congenital heart defects, aortic coarctation, right aortic arch, left superior vena cava.