The cause of total anomalous pulmonary venous return is unknown.

In normal circulation, blood is sent from the right ventricle to pick up oxygen in the lungs. It then returns through the pulmonary (lung) veins to the left side of the heart, which sends blood out through the aorta and around the body.

In TAPVR, oxygen-rich blood returns from the lungs to the right atrium or to a vein flowing into the right atrium, instead of the left side of heart. In other words, blood simply circles to and from the lungs and never gets out to the body.

For the infant to live, an atrial septal defect (ASD) or patent foramen ovale (passage between the left and right atria) must exist to allow oxygenated blood to flow to the left side of the heart and the rest of the body.

How severe this condition is depends on whether the pulmonary veins are blocked or obstructed as they drain. Obstructed TAPVR causes symptoms early in life and can be deadly very quickly if it is not found and corrected with surgery.

The infant may appear very sick and may have the following symptoms:

• Bluish color to the skin (cyanosis) due to low oxygen level in the blood
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Lethargy
• Poor feeding
• Poor growth
• Rapid breathing

Note: Sometimes, no symptoms may be present in infancy or early childhood.

Tests may include:

• Cardiac catheterization can confirm the diagnosis by showing that the blood vessels are abnormally attached
• ECG shows enlargement of the ventricles (ventricular hypertrophy)
• Echocardiogram may show that the pulmonary vessels are attached
• MRI or CT scan of the heart can show the connections between the pulmonary vessels
• X-ray of the chest shows a normal to small heart with fluid in the lungs

Surgery to repair the problem is needed as soon as possible. In surgery, the pulmonary veins are connected to the left atrium and the defect between the right and left atrium is closed.

If this condition is not treated, the heart will get larger, leading to heart failure. Repairing the defect early provides excellent results if there is no blockage of the pulmonary veins at the new connection into the heart. Infants who have obstructed veins have worsened survival.

Complications may include:

• Breathing difficulties
• Heart failure
• Irregular, fast heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
• Lung infections
• Pulmonary hypertension

This condition may be apparent at the time of birth. However, symptoms may not be present until later.

Contact your health care provider if you notice symptoms of TAPVR. Prompt attention is required.

Women who plan to become pregnant should be immunized against rubella if they are not already immune. Rubella infection in a pregnant woman can cause congenital heart disease.

Women who are pregnant should get good prenatal care:

• Avoid alcohol and illegal drugs during pregnancy.
• Tell your provider that you are pregnant before taking any new medicines.
• Have a blood test early in your pregnancy to see if you are immune to rubella. If you are not immune, avoid any possible exposure to rubella and get vaccinated right after delivery.
• Pregnant women who have diabetes should try to get good control over their blood sugar level.

Some inherited factors may play a role in congenital heart disease. Many family members may be affected. If you are planning to get pregnant, talk to your provider about screening for genetic diseases.

TAPVR; Total veins; Congenital heart defect - TAPVR; Cyanotic heart disease - TAPVR

Valente AM, Dorfman AL, Babu-Narayan SV, Kreiger EV. Congenital heart disease in the adolescent and adult. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 82.

Well A, Fraser CD. Congenital heart disease. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 59.

Updated by: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.