ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of the sequential segmental analysis (SSA) to diagnose congenital heart diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 100 cardiopulmonar specimens were analyzed according with the sequential segmental analysis. The atrial situs, atrioventricular (AVC) and ventriculoarterial connections (VAC) were defined, finally associated lesions were observed. RESULTS: From 100 specimens, 91 had situs solitus (SS), 6 inversus (SI) and 3 isomerism (2 right isomerism and 1 left isomerism). The AVC in these hearts were: 89 biventricular, 80 (90%) concordant, 6 (6.7%) discordant and 3 (3.3%) ambiguous (2 right topology an 1 left topology). The univentricular AVC were 11, 4 (36%) had absent left AVC (mitral atresia), 3 (27%) absent right AVC (tricuspid atresia), 2 (18%) double inlet right ventricle (DIRV), 1 double inlet left ventricle (DILV) and 1 (9%) double inlet undetermined ventricle. The VAC in SS were: 52 (57%) concordant, 13 (14%) discordant, 6 (6.6%) double outlet right ventricle (DORV), 20 (22%) with single outlet (13 pulmonary atresia , 5 aortic atresia and 2 common arterial trunk). The VAC in SI were: concordant in one, (16.7%), discordant 3 (50%) and DORV in 2 (33.3%). In the hearts with isomerism, the VAC were concordant in one, DORV in one and single outlet in another (pulmonary atresia). The associated anomalies were ASD (67%), PAD (51%) and VSD (53%). CONCLUSIONS: The SSA was and effective and accurate tool to codify clear and completely the congenital heart disease. It is suggested that if the SSA is normal to describe this situation as a Normal Basic Heart Organization and then to describe the associated anomalies.