Vessels on USS

With the transducer (probe) in a modified sagittal position, you are looking to transect the umbilical vein route through the portal sinus into the ductus venosus and capture the opening of the right atrium. This is the image you are looking for

Test yourself on the anatomy below, you can on the images how tortuous the path may be

*Young A, et al. Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed 2019;104:88–96. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2017-312662

The clear path of the umbilical vein through the portal sinus past the ductus venosus to the Cavo-atrial junction will not always be as clear as above, especially when the baby moves and the probe is shifting. It may look more like this:

TIP on scanning

Use the portal sinus as the building block to get your eye into the anatomy and move the probe about (slowly clockwise) to transect the ductus venosus. Try not to rock/tilt the probe, just twist and rotate. Real tip: practice, practice, practice.