New classifications of prenatally diagnosed congenital heart defects and their influence of neonatal survivability

Abstract Attempts to adapt the classifications of pediatric congenital heart defects (CHD) to prenatal cardiology have been lasting for many years. The paediatric cardiology CHD classifications are mainly based on anatomic details and/or pulmonary blood flow and are not always useful in fetal medicine. Because of these reasons and also many more, adaptation attempts of congenital heart defects of children, from pediatric to prenatal cardiology have not brought desired effects.Clinical course in utero and at delivery can now be predicted, and as a consequence, fetal medicine specialists are being asked to consider the fetus as a patient and the transition to postnatal life is an important part of care. The new prenatal classifications of CHD shows new particular group of CHD, requiring emergent procedure after birth. Thanks to organizing special delivery room with special team of specialist we can much more improve the outcome, especially in severest CHD.