[Segmental anatomic diagnosis in congenital cardiac anomalies. II: Sequential localization of the cardiac chambers (author's transl)].

The approach to the diagnosis of congenital heart disease, based upon the identification of the cardiac chambers, the reconstruction of their sequence and final recognition of the basic circulatory model is discussed. Three cardiac segments are recognizable embriologically, anatomically and functionally: atria, ventricles and great arteries. Connexion is the sequential link of these segments, independently from their spatial relationship. Situs of the atria can be: solitus, inversus or ambiguus, and is determined by the thoracic situs which can be assumed from the bronchial anatomy. Atrio-ventricular connexion can be concordant, absent or double inlet ventricle. Ventricular-arterial connexion can be concordant, discordant, double outlet ventricle or single outlet heart. Since this approach aims to the reconstruction of the connexion among the cardiac segments, heart position and the infundibular anatomy are not relevant to the recognition of the circulatory model.