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.