Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR)

Overview

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) is an uncommon congenital heart defect. Total abnormal pulmonary venous connection is another name for it (TAPVC) in which the pulmonary veins, wrong place of the heart.

Blood that is oxygenated typically travels from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart before continuing through the body. In TAPVR, an abnormal venous connection directs blood through the right atrium, the upper right chamber of the heart instead, where it mixes with blood that is low in oxygen. As a result, the blood that is going to the body lacks sufficient oxygen.

The different types of TAPVR are depending on where the veins converge. The majority of newborns with TAPVR have no congenital heart disease in family.

Symptoms

Soon after delivery, the doctor may identify the signs and symptoms of TAPVR. However, some kids don’t start showing signs until much later.

An infant with TAPVR may have trouble breathing and appear blue (cyanotic) due to low oxygen levels in the blood that leaves the body or due to reduced or blocked blood flow through the pulmonary veins.