Sequential segmental analysis - description and categorization for the millennium

The concept of sequential analysis of congenitally malformed hearts is now widely accepted, although some aspects remain controversial. In this review, we analyse the evolution of the scgmental approach, showing how our own concepts of analysis have chaanged little since our initial description, heart dicrates the presence of the atrial, ventriclar, and arterial segments, Analysis depends upon recognizing the morphologic differences of the components within each segment, and then how these parts are joined together across the atrioventicular and ventriculo-arterial Junctions. The distinction of chambers and arterial trunks follows the principle of the morphologic method, namely that scructures be identified on the basis of their own intrinsic morphology, and not according to other features which themselves might be variable. Differentiation of junctional arrangements as opposed to segmental stucture resolves ongoing controversics such as the nature of “univentricular hearts”.Analysis in the fashion proposed shows that there is nothing intrinsically complicated with malformed hearts.