Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVC)

In this malformation, all the four blood tubes carrying red, oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left side of the heart for distribution to the whole body, don't do so. Instead, this blood reaches the right side of the heart. The only way for the body to get red oxygen-rich blood from the right side of the heart is through an ASD (a hole between the two upper chambers of the heart). The ASD in this case allows blood to pass from the right to the left side of the heart for distribution to the entire body. If there is an obstruction to blood flow anywhere in this pathway, it is a very serious condition requiring emergency open-heart surgery. If emergency surgery is not done, the baby will die for want of oxygen-rich blood. When there is no obstruction, parents can choose to have the surgical correction performed or not. 

 

During open-heart surgery, the abnormal connections are corrected such that red, oxygen-rich blood reaches the left side of the heart, for distribution to the entire body.