Surgical treatment of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the surgical treatment of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 49 patients with TAPVC as follows: 37 patients with supra-cardiac type in which 35 received anastomoses between the rear wall of the left atrium and the common pulmonary vein and the other 2 received anastomoses between the rear edge of the left atrium roof and the common pulmonary vein; another 12 patients with cardiac type who were incised the upper edge of coronary sinus, connected the common junction of pulmonary veins with the left atrium to form a new left atrium, and repaired the atrial septal defect with a pericardial patch.

RESULTS

Forty-six patients recovered and 3 patients died. Thirty-eight patients were followed-up from 3 months to 8 years. The rest patients got fluent pulmonary vein drainage and their heart function resumed to NYHA I.

CONCLUSION

TAPVC patients should be operated on immediately at definite diagnosis. The fluency of the common pulmonary vein-left atrium anastomoses and proper postoperative care can ensure a satisfactory outcome.