Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return

Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) is a heart condition that children are born with (congenital). The blood vessels that are supposed to carry blood from the lungs to the left side of the heart go to the right side instead.
In a normal heart, blood returns to the right side of the heart from all over the body. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs, where the blood picks up oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood then flows to the left side of the heart through blood vessels (pulmonary veins) and back out to the body.
If your child has TAPVR, the pulmonary veins return all the oxygen-rich blood to the right side of the heart instead. The oxygen-rich blood mixes with the returning oxygen-poor blood and passes through a hole between the right side of the heart and the left side (atrial septal defect). This makes your child's heart work harder and results in less oxygen-rich blood going out to the body.

CAUSES …show more content…
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
The symptoms of TAPVR usually show up soon after birth, but sometimes they start later. Symptoms can be mild or severe. Signs and symptoms include:
• Abnormal heart sound (murmur).
• Pounding heart.
• Weak pulse.
• Blue lips, skin, or fingers from a lack of oxygen