Ultrasound Patterns in the First Trimester Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease

Figure 1. Color doppler flow patterns encountered in the four-chamber view. (A): Normal filling of both ventricles. (B): Filling of both ventricles, but the cardiac axis is abnormally shifted to the left. (C): Common inflow into the ventricles. (D): Filling of both ventricles, but the left ventricle appears smaller. (E): Filling of only one ventricle.

Figure 2. Color doppler flow patterns encountered in the three-vessel and trachea view. (A): Typical V sign with equally sized arms. (B): The vessels forming a U sign around the trachea. (C): V sign with a narrower arm. (D): One vessel with an oblique and curved course. (E): One vessel with a straight course.

Figure 3. Color doppler flow patterns seen in the three-vessel and trachea view in the case of CAT. (A): Pulmonary arteries arising from the vessel. (B): The straight course of the vessel through the mediastinum.

Figure 4. Color doppler flow patterns of the four-chamber, and three-vessel, and trachea views obtained using low and high PRF/WMF doppler settings in a normal 12–13-week fetus. (A): Low PRF/WMF doppler settings allow better visualization of the size and filling of the ventricles in the four-chamber view. (B): High PRF/WMF doppler settings are preferred to verify the distinct filling of the ventricles. (C): Low PRF/WMF doppler settings offer adequate visualization of the ductal and aortic arches. (D): High PRF/WMF doppler settings can impair the visualization of the aorta.