You are in: eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: Cardiac Disease and Critical Care Medicine > Cardiology Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous ConnectionArticle Last Updated: Nov 16, 2007AUTHOR AND EDITOR INFORMATIONAuthor: 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 INTRODUCTIONBackgroundTotal 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. PathophysiologyAs 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. FrequencyUnited StatesTAPVC 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/MorbidityThe Baltimore-Washington Infant Study compared patients with TAPVC with control subjects who had cardiac malformations according to the following parameters:1
SexIn 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. CLINICALHistoryPatients 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. CausesSociodemographic 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. DIFFERENTIALSAtrial 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
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drug Name | Nitric oxide, inhaled (INOmax) |
|---|---|
| Description | Stimulates 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 Dose | Initial 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 |
| Contraindications | Neonates with dependent right-to-left shunting of blood; methemoglobin-reductase deficiency |
| Interactions | NO donor compounds (eg, nitroprusside, nitroglycerin) may increase risk of developing methemoglobinemia |
| Pregnancy | C - Fetal risk revealed in studies in animals but not established or not studied in humans; may use if benefits outweigh risk to fetus |
| Precautions | Possible 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 Name | Magnesium sulfate |
|---|---|
| Description | Reportedly 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 Dose | 20 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 |
| Contraindications | Documented hypersensitivity; preexisting systemic hypotension or hypermagnesemia; heart block, myocardial damage, or severe hepatitis |
| Interactions | Concurrent 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 |
| Pregnancy | A - Fetal risk not revealed in controlled studies in humans |
| Precautions | Magnesium 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 Name | Alprostadil (Prostin VR) |
|---|---|
| Description | Prostaglandin 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 Dose | Initial 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 |
| Contraindications | Documented hypersensitivity; hyaline membrane disease or respiratory distress syndrome; systemic hypotension may be relative contraindication |
| Interactions | Limited data are available; caution with concurrent use of antiplatelet drugs or anticoagulants |
| Pregnancy | X - Contraindicated; benefit does not outweigh risk |
| Precautions | Most 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 |
| Media file 1: Types of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. | |
![]() | View Full Size Image | Media type: Image |
Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection excerpt
Article Last Updated: Nov 16, 2007