Diagnosis

Your child's doctor will perform a physical exam and listen to your child's heart with a stethoscope to check for a heart murmur.

An echocardiogram is generally used to diagnose total anomalous pulmonary venous return. This test uses sound waves to create images of your child's heart in motion. An echocardiogram can show pulmonary veins, holes in the heart and the size of the heart chambers. It can also measure the rate of blood flow.

Other tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), a chest X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan may be done if more information is needed.