Abnormalities of the Pulmonary Veins

Congenital heart conditions where the pulmonary veins carrying the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs do not all connect to the left side of the heart.

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Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (Cardiac type)

In total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR/TAPVD), the pulmonary veins do not return to the left atrium. In the “cardiac” type, the pulmonary veins return to the heart to drain into the right upper chamber (right atrium). The only way for blood to get to the left side of the heart is by crossing through a hole (an atrial septal defect or ASD) between the top two chambers (atria) to reach the left side of the heart.

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Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (Infracardiac type)

In total anomalous pulmonary venous return, the pulmonary veins do not return to the left atrium. In the infracardiac (meaning “below the heart”) type, the pulmonary veins drain to vessels in the abdomen with the oxygenated blood returning to the right side of the heart. The only way for blood to get to the left side of the heart is by crossing through an atrial septal defect (ASD) between the top two chambers.

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Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (Supracardiac type)

In total anomalous pulmonary venous return, the pulmonary veins do not return to the left atrium. In the supracardiac (meaning “above the heart”) type, the pulmonary veins drain to vessels located above the heart with the oxygenated blood returning to the right side of the heart. The only way for blood to get to the left side of the heart is by crossing through a hole (an atrial septal defect or ASD) between the top two chambers (atria) to reach the left side of the heart.

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