What is the role of the three-vessel/trachea view in screening for CHD?

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What is the role of the three-vessel/trachea view in screening for CHD?

The three-vessel/trachea view tests how the great vessels relate to each other around the trachea in a single cross-section. By visualizing the main pulmonary artery, the aorta, and the superior vena cava together, you can assess their relative sizes and spatial relationships. In a normal fetus these vessels form a tight, predictable pattern; when CHD is present, many defects disrupt this pattern—altering which vessel is larger or more anterior, or changing how they cross or align with the trachea. This makes the view especially useful for spotting arch anomalies and outflow tract abnormalities, which may not be evident on other planes. It’s not used to assess placental perfusion, fetal lung volumes, or fetal brain vessels, which is why its primary value lies in evaluating the great vessels around the trachea for CHD.

The three-vessel/trachea view tests how the great vessels relate to each other around the trachea in a single cross-section. By visualizing the main pulmonary artery, the aorta, and the superior vena cava together, you can assess their relative sizes and spatial relationships. In a normal fetus these vessels form a tight, predictable pattern; when CHD is present, many defects disrupt this pattern—altering which vessel is larger or more anterior, or changing how they cross or align with the trachea. This makes the view especially useful for spotting arch anomalies and outflow tract abnormalities, which may not be evident on other planes. It’s not used to assess placental perfusion, fetal lung volumes, or fetal brain vessels, which is why its primary value lies in evaluating the great vessels around the trachea for CHD.

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