[Two-dimensional and color-coded Doppler echocardiography in the diagnosis of infradiaphragmatic total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (ITAPVC) to the portal venous system].

We have studied by means of 2D echocardiogram and pulsed, continuous and codified colour Doppler, 3 newborns with a total anomalous infradiaphragmatic pulmonary venous connection to the portal vein. In the right subcostal projection we have observed the abnormal venous conduit crossing the diaphragm going to an enlarged portal system. The codified colour and the pulsed Doppler showed the venous characteristics and the abnormal direction of the flow. With these techniques it was also possible to detect the anatomic and functional intracardiac abnormalities. We consider these techniques a reliable method to make a surgical correction without the practise of any other invasive diagnostic method.