Continually Updated Clinical Reference
 
 
  All Sources     eMedicine     Medscape     Drug Reference     MEDLINE
 
eMedicine - Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection : Article by

Quick Find
Authors & Editors
Introduction
Clinical
Differentials
Workup
Treatment
Medication
Follow-up
Miscellaneous
Multimedia
References

Related Articles
Atrial Septal Defect, General Concepts

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Mitral Stenosis, Acquired

Mitral Stenosis, Congenital

Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I H/S

Single Ventricle

Transposition of the Great Arteries

Truncus Arteriosus

Ventricular Septal Defect, General Concepts




Patient Education
Click here for patient education.



Author: Allen D Wilson, MD, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Cardiology, UW Children's Hospital, University of Wisconsin at Madison

Allen D Wilson is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, American Society of Echocardiography, and Society of Pediatric Echocardiography

Editors: Juan Carlos Alejos, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, University of California at Los Angeles; Mary L Windle, PharmD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine.com, Inc; John W Moore, MD, MPH, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Mattel Children's Hospital of University of California at Los Angeles; Gilbert Herzberg, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Cardiology, New York Medical College; Stuart Berger, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Medical College of Wisconsin; Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, Medical Director of Pediatric Heart Transplant Program, Medical Director of The Heart Center, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin

Author and Editor Disclosure

Synonyms and related keywords: total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, TAPVC, total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, TAPVD, total anomalous pulmonary venous return, TAPVR, atrial septal defect, patent foramen ovale, pulmonary venous obstruction, pulmonary venous congestion, pulmonary vein obstruction, cor triatriatum, left atrial shelf, tachypnea, tachycardia, cyanosis, pulmonary hypertension, failure to thrive

Background

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) consists of an abnormality of blood flow in which all 4 pulmonary veins drain into systemic veins or the right atrium with or without pulmonary venous obstruction. Systemic and pulmonary venous blood mix in the right atrium. An atrial defect or foramen ovale (part of the complex) is important in left ventricular output both in fetal and in newborn circulation.

Embryology

Early in the formation of the lungs, the blood coming from the lung buds drains to the splanchnic plexus, which connects to the paired common cardinal and umbilicovitelline veins. The right common cardinal system later evolves into the right sinus venosus, which, in turn, becomes the right superior vena cava and azygos vein. The left common cardinal vein evolves into the left sinus venosus, which, in turn, becomes the left superior vena cava and coronary sinus. The umbilicovitelline system becomes the inferior vena cava, ductus venosus, and portal vein.

At 25-27 days' gestation, the developing pulmonary venous plexus retains connections to the right superior vena cava, left superior vena cava, and portal system. No direct communication to the left atrium exists.

At 27-29 days' gestation, the primitive pulmonary vein appears as an endothelial out-pouching from either the posterior superior left atrial wall or from the central part of the sinus venosus proximal to the primordial lung venous plexus. Connection between the primitive pulmonary vein and pulmonary venous plexus occurs by 30 days' gestation. The common pulmonary vein enlarges and incorporates into the left atrium, and, normally, the pulmonary venous part of the splanchnic plexus gradually loses its connection with the cardinal and umbilicovitelline veins.

Knowledge of the normal development of pulmonary venous pathways facilitates an understanding of how the various types of anomalous pulmonary venous return might occur. Failure of the common pulmonary vein to connect with the pulmonary venous plexus leads to persistence of one or more earlier venous connections to the right superior vena cava, to the left vertical vein/innominate vein, or to the umbilicovitelline vein/portal vein. Failure of the septum primum to normally form or abnormal septation of the sinus venosus can lead to direct connection of the pulmonary veins to the right atrium. Late obstruction of the common pulmonary vein after earlier venous channels have disappeared can lead to isolated pulmonary vein atresia, a rare and usually fatal condition. Failure of incorporation of the common pulmonary vein may lead to a left atrial shelf or membrane of cor triatriatum (ie, stenosis of the common pulmonary vein).

Because all pulmonary venous return connects to the systemic venous system, right atrial and right ventricular enlargement occurs, and, if significant pulmonary venous obstruction develops, right ventricular hypertrophy occurs. TAPVC occurs alone in two thirds of patients and occurs as part of a group of heart defects (eg, heterotaxy syndromes) in approximately one third of patients.

An atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale, considered part of the complex, serves a vital function in this condition for maintaining left ventricular output. Because diagnosis of most patients occurs in early infancy, a ductus arteriosus is frequently found as well.

Darling proposed the most commonly used classification system for TAPVC based on the site of pulmonary venous drainage. In type I (ie, supracardiac connection), the 4 pulmonary veins drain via a common vein into the right superior vena cava, left superior vena cava, or their tributaries. In type II (ie, cardiac connection), the pulmonary veins connect directly to the right heart (eg, coronary sinus or directly to the right atrium). In type III (ie, infradiaphragmatic connection), the common pulmonary vein travels down anterior to the esophagus through the diaphragm to connect to the portal venous system. In type IV (ie, mixed connections), the right and left pulmonary veins drain to different sites (eg, left pulmonary veins into the left vertical vein to the left innominate, right pulmonary veins directly into the right atrium or coronary sinus).

Pulmonary venous obstruction may occur in all types of anomalous connections, and, in all cases, clinicians must identify any sites of obstruction and treat the obstruction whenever possible at the time of surgical repair. In supracardiac connections, obstruction may occur at the origin of the ascending (vertical) vein or its attachment to the innominate vein, or the vertical vein may be obstructed as it crosses between the left pulmonary artery and the left bronchus. In cardiac connections, obstruction to pulmonary veins seldom develops but may occur at the junction of the common vein to the coronary sinus.

In infradiaphragmatic connections, severe obstruction almost always inhibits pulmonary venous flow with obstruction of the common pulmonary vein. This obstruction occurs either as it travels through the diaphragm, at its junction with the portal vein system, or as an obstruction of pulmonary venous flow as the ductus venosus closes and pulmonary vein flow is forced to cross the liver portal sinusoid system. Finally, in all types, obstruction may occur because of restrictive atrial septal defect size and because of small left atrial size.

Pathophysiology

As a result of the mixture of pulmonary and systemic venous flow, right atrial and right ventricular volume loading develops in all patients with TAPVC. Whether right heart pressure loading is also present depends primarily on whether restriction to flow occurs at the atrial septum or an obstruction to pulmonary venous flow develops. If the foramen ovale is restrictive, right atrial pressure elevates, and systemic and pulmonary venous congestion both occur. Pulmonary blood flow increases, and pulmonary artery hypertension may occur. The left atrium and left ventricle receive less than the normal flow and pump less than the normal volume, with some decrease in the cardiac index.

Most patients with isolated TAPVC have a patent foramen ovale with some degree of restriction to transatrial flow. If no pulmonary venous obstruction is present, pulmonary blood flow increases (eg, 3-5 times the systemic volume) in early infancy, and arterial oxygen saturation is maintained, usually at 90% or higher. Signs of right heart volume load or right heart failure are evident.

If obstruction of pulmonary venous flow is present, then pulmonary venous congestion occurs with increased pulmonary lymphatic flow and increased flow through available alternate pulmonary venous pathways. Reflex pulmonary arterial vasoconstriction may also occur. Increase in pulmonary vascular resistance leads to decrease in pulmonary blood flow and a lower volume of saturated blood in the venous mixture. Decrease in systemic oxygen saturation along with a decrease in the cardiac index may lead to a severe decrease in oxygen delivery.

Frequency

United States

TAPVC occurred in 41 of 2659 cases with cardiovascular abnormalities in the Baltimore-Washington Infant Study (1981-1987) or in 1.5% of all patients with cardiovascular malformations. Regional prevalence was 6.8 per 100,000 live births.1 A total of 68% of these patients were diagnosed as neonates.

Mortality/Morbidity

The Baltimore-Washington Infant Study compared patients with TAPVC with control subjects who had cardiac malformations according to the following parameters:1

  • Birth weight was less than 2500 g in 16.2% of patients with TAPVC and 6.9% of the control subjects.
  • Gestational age was less than 38 weeks in 18.9% of patients with TAPVC and 9.3% of the control subjects.
  • Intrauterine growth retardation occurred in 26.8% of patients with TAPVC and 5.8% of the control subjects.

Sex

In the Baltimore-Washington Infant Study, the male-to-female ratio was 18:23.1 In other reports, a strong male preponderance of 3:1 was observed in patients with infradiaphragmatic drainage.



History

Patients with pulmonary vein obstruction

Pulmonary venous obstruction occurs in virtually all patients with subdiaphragmatic drainage and in approximately 50% of patients with supracardiac drainage. Patients with obstruction develop symptoms early, usually at age 24-36 hours, including tachypnea, tachycardia, and cyanosis. Signs of pulmonary hypertension progress with decreasing pulmonary blood flow and worsening cyanosis. Natural history is that of progressive clinical deterioration and early death in the first week or month of life, depending on the degree of pulmonary venous obstruction.

Physical examination findings include severe cyanosis with significant respiratory distress. Cardiac impulse is prominent anteriorly, but, usually, the heart is not clinically enlarged. The pulmonary component of the second heart sound is increased, and a gallop may be present. A murmur usually is not present, yet a systolic murmur over the pulmonary area or a tricuspid insufficiency murmur at the mid and lower left sternal border may be observed. Peripheral pulses are usually normal after birth but may decrease as heart failure progresses. Liver enlargement commonly occurs, especially in total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) type III, subdiaphragmatic drainage.

Patients without pulmonary venous obstruction

Patients with unobstructed pulmonary venous flow present with symptoms more similar to a very large atrial septal defect. Mild failure to thrive with greater respiratory effort than normal with activity or recurrent respiratory infections may be present. Often, chest radiography in patients with respiratory infections reveals significant cardiac enlargement.

Physical examination findings suggest right ventricular volume loading with increase in right ventricular impulse, a wide split-second sound (usually with normal-intensity pulmonary closure), and pulmonary outflow murmur with or without a tricuspid diastolic murmur. Cyanosis infrequently occurs in the first year of life. If a restriction develops in the foramen ovale, some degree of pulmonary hypertension is more likely, with earlier onset of tachypnea, louder pulmonary closure sound, more prominent right ventricular impulse, and a greater likelihood of systemic and pulmonary venous congestion.

Causes

Sociodemographic findings in patients with TAPVC were similar to those in control subjects.1 Family history showed no other family members with TAPVC. Noncardiac malformations were present in 9 patients (22%); however, other cardiac and noncardiac malformations were present in 6 first-degree relatives and 7 second-degree relatives of patients with isolated cases (41%). Altogether, a genetic etiology was suspected to contribute to a "failure of targeted pulmonary vein growth" because of the number of multiplex families. In addition, TAPVC has been reported in siblings in other series.

Exposure histories showed possible association of TAPVC with lead or pesticide exposure and raised questions of familial susceptibility to certain environmental teratogens.

TAPVC frequently occurs in association with asplenia and pulmonary atresia. Overall, one third of patients with TAPVC have a major associated cardiovascular malformation and two thirds of patients have isolated TAPVC.



Atrial Septal Defect, General Concepts
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Mitral Stenosis, Acquired
Mitral Stenosis, Congenital
Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I H/S
Single Ventricle
Transposition of the Great Arteries
Truncus Arteriosus
Ventricular Septal Defect, General Concepts

Other Problems to be Considered

Newborns

  • Tachypnea
  • Cyanosis
  • Signs of pulmonary venous congestion
  • Cor triatriatum
  • Mitral stenosis
  • Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
  • Coarctation or interrupted aortic arch
  • Transposition of the great vessels
  • Persistent fetal circulation

Infants (age usually >6 wk)

Right ventricular volume load and pulmonary hypertension may indicate any of several heart defects, including the following:

  • Large ventricular septal defect
  • Common arteriovenous canal
  • Truncus arteriosus
  • Single ventricle

Children older than 1 year

  • Large atrial septal defect
  • Common atrium partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection



Lab Studies

  • Assess and improve (as possible) the oxygenation, acid-base status, and hemogram status in these newborns or young infants in preparation for surgery.

Imaging Studies

  • Chest radiography
    • In patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) with pulmonary venous obstruction, chest radiographs reveal a normal heart size with a diffuse reticular pattern fanning out from the hilum.
    • When the pulmonary veins are unobstructed, the heart is enlarged (right atrial and right ventricular enlargement), and pulmonary markings reveal active increase in size of the pulmonary hilar and midzone vessels.
  • Echocardiography
    • Echocardiographic findings, which are usually definitive, have been vital in pinpointing the exact cardiac defect. Hyaline membrane disease may demonstrate similar findings initially. In this setting, ECG helps identify right ventricular hypertrophy in patients with TAPVC, especially in premature babies, particularly because premature babies usually have a greater level of left ventricular force.
    • Echocardiography of the precordium in patients with TAPVC reveals right ventricular and pulmonary artery volume loading with flattened or paradoxic septal motion on M-mode imaging. Apical and subcostal 4-chamber views usually best identify individual pulmonary veins and their confluence in patients with TAPVC. Then, using multiple views, the common pulmonary vein can usually be tracked to its point of entry to the systemic venous system or to the coronary sinus.
    • Subcostal long- and short-axis views can also help evaluate size and flow patterns across the foramen ovale.
    • TAPVC may be difficult to diagnose, especially in an ill newborn on a ventilator, if views of the atrial septum are difficult to obtain or if the common pulmonary vein is small or at an obtuse angle to the left atrial back wall. The addition of color Doppler ultrasonography greatly aids in the diagnosis of individual pulmonary veins and in analysis of the abnormal flow pattern across the atrial septal defect.
    • Color-flow mapping may be helpful in finding individual pulmonary veins and confirming whether they enter the left atrium. Color-flow ultrasonography may also be used to assess directional flow at the foramen ovale. In patients with TAPVC, flow across the atrial septum predominantly occurs from the right to left.
    • Altogether, echocardiography with additional color Doppler can help make the diagnosis in the vast majority of patients with TAPVC. In patients with pulmonary inflow obstruction, further diagnostic studies may be needed.
    • With fetal echocardiography, an attempt should be made to see the individual pulmonary veins, but most consistent diagnostic findings in TAPVC have involved a confluence (chamber) behind the left atrium or a vertical vein.
  • MRI: MRI serves to confirm the diagnosis in patients with TAPVC (especially in those with associated lung disease).
  • Selective pulmonary vein or pulmonary artery angiography: This may precisely reveal a vessel's anatomy.

Other Tests

  • ECG reveals significant right ventricular hypertrophy in most of these patients, usually with a qR pattern in the right chest leads by age 5-7 days. Right atrial enlargement rarely occurs in these younger patients.

Procedures

  • In some patients with multiple sites of pulmonary venous connection, cardiac catheterization serves to better define sites of pulmonary venous obstruction, when other associated cardiac defects are present (ie, pulmonary atresia), and to directly measure foramen ovale size when surgery is delayed.



Medical Care

No catheter-corrective treatment is possible for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), although atrial septostomy is used in some patients when the foramen ovale is restricted and corrective surgery is delayed for some reason. Catheter placement of a stent has been reported for pretreatment of obstructed vertical vein prior to surgery.2 If a vertical vein is left patent postoperatively and significant shunt persists it may be possible to close this vessel with an Amplatzer PDA device.3

Surgical repair is used as treatment for TAPVC whenever it best serves the individual patient. Stabilizing the patient prior to surgery as much as possible from a cardiovascular and metabolic standpoint is important. In a newborn with obstructive TAPVC, stabilization often involves mechanical ventilation, correction of acidosis, inotropic support, and administration of prostaglandin E1 for patency of patent ductus arteriosus and, in patients with TAPVC type III, for patency of the ductus venous.

Nitric oxide may be useful as a pulmonary dilator postoperatively in patients experiencing episodic pulmonary hypertension that is affecting cardiac output. Reports indicate that magnesium sulfate is a useful pulmonary vasodilator in these patients. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may be life saving in some patients. If transesophageal echocardiography is used intraoperatively in infants with pulmonary vein obstruction, waiting for probe insertion until after chest is opened may be safer.4

Surgical Care

The goal of surgery is to redirect pulmonary vein flow entirely to the left atrium. In patients with a supracardiac or infracardiac connection, the common pulmonary vein is opened wide and connected side to side to the left atrium. The foramen ovale is closed, and the ascending or descending vein is usually ligated. In a cardiac connection (to right atrium or coronary sinus), the atrial septum is resected partially and a new septum is surgically created, directing pulmonary veins to the left atrium. A coronary sinus may be separately tunneled to the right atrium or left to drain with the pulmonary veins to the left atrium.



Newborns or patients in early infancy with obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) frequently have pulmonary edema with varying degrees of increase in pulmonary arterial and venous resistance. Pulmonary edema is probably treated best with surgical relief of the pulmonary venous obstruction, but diuretics and assisted ventilation with high fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) and end-expiratory pressure are often helpful preoperatively and postoperatively.

Drug Category: Pulmonary vasodilators

When sustained severe cyanosis or severe hypercyanotic episodes occur in patients with obstructed TAPVC postoperatively, treatment with one or more pulmonary vasodilators may be helpful. The pulmonary vascular bed may be somewhat reactive in the postoperative period, resulting in episodic pulmonary hypertension and low cardiac output. Although this should improve over time, interim therapy with pulmonary vasodilator agents may be useful in this setting. Vasodilators that are specific for the pulmonary vasculature are rare; however, inhaled nitric oxide may be a good agent in this setting. Therefore, the following 3 vasodilators can be used to treat elevated pulmonary vascular resistance in the postoperative period. Note that this therapy is controversial in the preoperative patient with known pulmonary venous obstruction.

Drug NameNitric oxide, inhaled (INOmax)
DescriptionStimulates guanylate cyclase to form cyclic GMP, which causes relaxation of vascular smooth muscle.
Because it can be delivered by inhalation directly to alveolar units and is rapidly inactivated by hemoglobin, it is the most selective of currently available pulmonary vascular dilators (except for oxygen). Requires an inhalation delivery system (not available everywhere); approved for use in children in December 1999.
Pediatric DoseInitial dose 80 ppm inhaled with high FIO2; taper to 20 ppm as safer long-term dose; effect of pulmonary vasodilatation may still be observed at 5 ppm
Delivery system must measure NO concentrations in breathing gas (concentration must be constant throughout respiratory cycle) and must not generate excessive inhaled NO2
ContraindicationsNeonates with dependent right-to-left shunting of blood; methemoglobin-reductase deficiency
InteractionsNO donor compounds (eg, nitroprusside, nitroglycerin) may increase risk of developing methemoglobinemia
PregnancyC - Fetal risk revealed in studies in animals but not established or not studied in humans; may use if benefits outweigh risk to fetus
PrecautionsPossible withdrawal problems with prolonged therapy; when weaning, may use type V phosphodiesterase inhibitor to increase cyclic GMP levels to decrease rebound pulmonary hypertension; in patients with small left atria or poorly compliant left ventricles, initial improvement in pulmonary flow can occur, then pulmonary hypertension can return with worsened clinical state; prolonged treatment can cause elevation in methemoglobin levels, which can be measured; caution in thrombocytopenia, anemia, leukopenia, or bleeding disorders

Drug NameMagnesium sulfate
DescriptionReportedly useful in patients with obstructed TAPVC who have hypercyanotic episodes to decrease pulmonary vascular resistance and decrease pulmonary vascular reactivity. Mechanism of action is believed to be direct action on vascular muscle cells but may also increase formation or release of NO. MgSO4 has systemic and pulmonary vascular dilating effects, and use of a slow infusion of lower-dose MgSO4 is wise to avoid systemic hypotension.
Pediatric Dose20 mg/kg/h IV initially; can gradually increase to 50 mg/kg/h IV over 10-12 h; not to exceed 50 mg/kg/h IV
ContraindicationsDocumented hypersensitivity; preexisting systemic hypotension or hypermagnesemia; heart block, myocardial damage, or severe hepatitis
InteractionsConcurrent use with nifedipine may cause hypotension and neuromuscular blockade; may increase neuromuscular blockade seen with aminoglycosides and potentiate neuromuscular blockade produced by tubocurarine, vecuronium, and succinylcholine; may increase CNS effects, toxicity of CNS depressants and betamethasone, and cardiotoxicity of ritodrine
PregnancyA - Fetal risk not revealed in controlled studies in humans
PrecautionsMagnesium may alter cardiac conduction, leading to heart block in patients taking digitalis; BP, blood gases, respiratory rate, deep tendon reflex, and renal function should be monitored when administered parenterally

Drug NameAlprostadil (Prostin VR)
DescriptionProstaglandin E1 (PGE1) that causes dilation of vascular smooth muscle in the ductus arteriosus, systemic arteries, and pulmonary vascular muscles. In obstructed TAPVC, PGE1 is usually used as a pulmonary vascular dilator, but its effects on the ductus arteriosus and ductus venosus can be very important (eg, in subdiaphragmatic connection, PGE1 can help dilate the ductus venosus and improve pulmonary venous flow. In other types of connection with obstruction, PGE1 can dilate pulmonary arteries and increase pulmonary flow or dilate the ductus arteriosus and systemic arteries and increase right-to-left shunting and worsen cyanosis). PGE1 is readily available and easily administered, preferably via a large vessel. Care must be taken to observe its effects in the complex circulation of TAPVC.
Each 1-mL ampule contains 500 mcg/mL.
Pediatric DoseInitial dose: 0.03-0.1 mcg/kg/min IV; not to exceed 0.2 mcg/kg/min IV
Usual effective maintenance dose can be lower at 0.01-0.05 mcg/kg/min IV
ContraindicationsDocumented hypersensitivity; hyaline membrane disease or respiratory distress syndrome; systemic hypotension may be relative contraindication
InteractionsLimited data are available; caution with concurrent use of antiplatelet drugs or anticoagulants
PregnancyX - Contraindicated; benefit does not outweigh risk
PrecautionsMost worrisome adverse effect is apnea, which occurs at higher doses (ie, >0.05 mcg/kg/min); adverse effects and toxicity include seizures, fever, hypotension, flushing, leukocytosis, fever, bradycardia, diarrhea, and pulmonary overcirculation; neonates may be intubated prophylactically because of potential risk of apnea (10-12%); prolonged use occasionally is necessary and may be associated with third spacing of fluid; monitor blood oxygenation and arterial pressures



Complications

  • Early in the postoperative period in patients with obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), the pulmonary arteries may be hypoplastic and respond poorly to the vasodilators listed in the Medication section.
  • The complication of pulmonary venous obstruction occurs later in 5-10% of patients and is usually evident in the first 6 months following surgery. This obstruction is more easily treated surgically if it involves only the pulmonary venous confluence and anastomosis area. Sutureless marsupialization with pericardium has seemed to help improve surgical results.5
  • If the pulmonary venous obstruction involves intimal fibrotic hyperplasia of individual pulmonary veins extending deeper back into the veins then surgery may not be successful.

Prognosis

  • Early surgical results have shown steady improvement over the past 30 years. In patients who underwent surgery before 1970, repair of TAPVC carried a mortality rate higher than 50%. From 1970-1980, centers reported lower mortality rates of 10-20%. Most recent reports indicate an early mortality rate of less than 10%.
  • Most patients survive surgery without late cardiovascular problem manifestations. An increased incidence of neurodevelopmental difficulties has been reported, with fine motor function, visual-motor integration, and attention difficulties noted.



Medical/Legal Pitfalls

  • Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) may be difficult to diagnose, especially in ill newborns on ventilation, if views of the atrial septum are difficult to obtain or if the common pulmonary vein is small or at an obtuse angle to the left atrial back wall. The addition of color Doppler imaging greatly aids in diagnosis in individual pulmonary veins and in analysis of the abnormal flow pattern across the atrial septal defect.
  • Usually, the need for surgery in these patients is not debatable, although timing can be an issue.
  • The risk of recurrent pulmonary vein stenosis or anastomosis at the anastomosis site between the common pulmonary vein and the left atrium must be explained to families.



Media file 1:  Types of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.
Click to see larger pictureClick to see detailView Full Size Image
Media type:  Image



  1. Correa-Villasenor A, Ferencz C, Boughman JA, Neill CA. Total anomalous pulmonary venous return: familial and environmental factors. The Baltimore-Washington Infant Study Group. Teratology. Oct 1991;44(4):415-28. [Medline].
  2. Kyser JP, Bengur AR, Siwik ES. Preoperative palliation of newborn obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection by endovascular stent placement. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. Mar 2006;67(3):473-6. [Medline].
  3. Narula N, Wilson N, Kumar RS. Transcatheter closure of persistent unligated vertical vein after TAPVC surgery using the Amplatzer PDA device. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. Jul 1 2007;70(1):117-9. [Medline].
  4. Chang YY, Chang CI, Wang MJ, et al. The safe use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in the management of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection in newborns and infants: a case series. Paediatr Anaesth. Nov 2005;15(11):939-43. [Medline].
  5. Devaney EJ, Chang AC, Ohye RG, Bove EL. Management of congenital and acquired pulmonary vein stenosis. Ann Thorac Surg. Mar 2006;81(3):992-5; discussion 995-6. [Medline].
  6. Behrendt DM, Aberdeen E, Waterson DJ, Bonham-Carter RE. Total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage in infants. I. Clinical and hemodynamic findings, methods, and results of operation in 37 cases. Circulation. Aug 1972;46(2):347-56. [Medline].
  7. Castenada AR, Jonas RA, Mayer JE, Hanley FL. Cardiac Surgery of the Neonate and Infant. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders Co; 1994:165.
  8. Cheung YF, Lun KS, Chau AK, Chiu CS. Fate of the unligated vertical vein after repair of supracardiac anomalous pulmonary venous connection. J Paediatr Child Health. Jul 2005;41(7):361-4. [Medline].
  9. Choe YH, Lee HJ, Kim HS, et al. MRI of total anomalous pulmonary venous connections. J Comput Assist Tomogr. Mar-Apr 1994;18(2):243-9. [Medline].
  10. Craig JM, Darling RC, Rothney WB. Total pulmonary venous drainage into the right side of the heart; report of 17 autopsied cases not associated with other major cardiovascular anomalies. Lab Invest. Jan-Feb 1957;6(1):44-64. [Medline].
  11. Duff DF, Nihill MR, McNamara DG. Infradiaphragmatic total anomalous pulmonary venous return. Review of clinical and pathological findings and results of operation in 28 cases. Br Heart J. Jun 1977;39(6):619-26. [Medline].
  12. Edwards JE. Pathologic and developmental considerations in anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Mayo Clin Proc. Aug 26 1953;28(17):441-52. [Medline].
  13. Graham TP Jr, Jarmakani JM, Canent RV Jr. Left heart volume characteristics with a right ventricular volume overload. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection and large atrial septal defect. Circulation. Feb 1972;45(2):389-96. [Medline].
  14. Hancock Friesen CL, Zurakowski D, Thiagarajan RR, et al. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: an analysis of current management strategies in a single institution. Ann Thorac Surg. Feb 2005;79(2):596-606; discussion 596-606. [Medline].
  15. Haworth SG. Total anomalous pulmonary venous return. Prenatal damage to pulmonary vascular bed and extrapulmonary veins. Br Heart J. Dec 1982;48(6):513-24. [Medline].
  16. Hong YK, Park YW, Ryu SJ, et al. Efficacy of MRI in complicated congenital heart disease with visceral heterotaxy syndrome. J Comput Assist Tomogr. Sep-Oct 2000;24(5):671-82. [Medline].
  17. Huhta JC, Gutgesell HP, Nihill MR. Cross sectional echocardiographic diagnosis of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Br Heart J. May 1985;53(5):525-34. [Medline].
  18. Jonas RA, Smolinsky A, Mayer JE, Castaneda AR. Obstructed pulmonary venous drainage with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the coronary sinus. Am J Cardiol. Feb 15 1987;59(5):431-5. [Medline].
  19. Kimball TR, Weiss RG, Meyer RA, et al. Color flow mapping to document normal pulmonary venous return in neonates with persistent pulmonary hypertension being considered for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. J Pediatr. Mar 1989;114(3):433-7. [Medline].
  20. Kirshbom PM, Flynn TB, Clancy RR, et al. Late neurodevelopmental outcome after repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. May 2005;129(5):1091-7. [Medline].
  21. Lin SC, Teng RJ, Wang JK. Management of severe pulmonary hypertension in an infant with obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous return using magnesium sulfate. Int J Cardiol. Oct 11 1996;56(2):131-5. [Medline].
  22. Lucas RV, Anderson RC, Amplatz K, et al. Congenital causes of pulmonary venous obstruction. Pediatr Clin North Am. Aug 1963;10:781-836. [Medline].
  23. Maeda K, Yamaki S, Kado H, et al. Hypoplasia of the small pulmonary arteries in hypoplastic left heart syndrome with restrictive atrial septal defect. Circulation. Sep 14 2004;110(11 Suppl 1):II139-46. [Medline][Full Text].
  24. Morin FC 3rd. Prostaglandin E1 opens the ductus venosus in the newborn lamb. Pediatr Res. Mar 1987;21(3):225-8. [Medline].
  25. Emmanouilides GC, Gutgesell HP, Riemenschneider TA, Allen HD, eds. Moss and Adams Heart Disease in Infants, Children and Adolescents: Including the Fetus and Young Adult. 5th ed. Williams & Wilkins; 1995:874-901.
  26. Neill CA. Development of the pulmonary veins; with reference to the embryology of anomalies of pulmonary venous return. Pediatrics. Dec 1956;18(6):880-7. [Medline].
  27. Norwood WI, Hougen TJ, Castaneda AR. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: surgical considerations. Cardiovasc Clin. 1981;11(2):353-64. [Medline].
  28. Ricci M, Elliott M, Cohen GA, et al. Management of pulmonary venous obstruction after correction of TAPVC: risk factors for adverse outcome. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. Jul 2003;24(1):28-36; discussion 36. [Medline].
  29. Rosales AM, Bolivar J, Burke RP, Chang AC. Adverse hemodynamic effects observed with inhaled nitric oxide after surgical repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous return. Pediatr Cardiol. May-Jun 1999;20(3):224-6. [Medline].
  30. Sahn DJ, Allen HD, Lange LW, Goldberg SJ. Cross-sectional echocardiographic diagnosis of the sites of total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. Circulation. Dec 1979;60(6):1317-25. [Medline].
  31. Sano S, Brawn WJ, Mee RB. Total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. Jun 1989;97(6):886-92. [Medline].
  32. Smallhorn JF, Sutherland GR, Tommasini G, et al. Assessment of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection by two-dimensional echocardiography. Br Heart J. Dec 1981;46(6):613-23. [Medline].
  33. Solymar L, Sabel KG, Zetterqvist P. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection in siblings. Report on three families. Acta Paediatr Scand. Jan 1987;76(1):124-7. [Medline].
  34. Tasaka H, Krug EL, Markwald RR. Origin of the pulmonary venous orifice in the mouse and its relation to the morphogenesis of the sinus venosus, extracardiac mesenchyme (spina vestibuli), and atrium. Anat Rec. Sep 1996;246(1):107-13. [Medline].
  35. Valsangiacomo ER, Hornberger LK, Barrea C, et al. Partial and total anomalous pulmonary venous connection in the fetus: two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic findings. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. Sep 2003;22(3):257-63. [Medline].
  36. van der Velde ME, Parness IA, Colan SD, et al. Two-dimensional echocardiography in the pre- and postoperative management of totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection. J Am Coll Cardiol. Dec 1991;18(7):1746-51. [Medline].
  37. Ward KE, Mullins CE. Anomalous pulmonary venous connections. In: The Science and Practice of Pediatric Cardiology. 2nd ed. Williams & Wilkins; 1998.
  38. Ward KE, Mullins CE, Huhta JC, et al. Restrictive interatrial communication in total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Am J Cardiol. May 1 1986;57(13):1131-6. [Medline].
  39. Wilson AD, Rao PS, Aeschlimann S. Normal fetal foramen flap and transatrial Doppler velocity pattern. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. Nov-Dec 1990;3(6):491-4. [Medline].

Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection excerpt

Article Last Updated: Nov 16, 2007