Overview

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) is a rare heart defect that's present at birth (congenital heart defect). It is sometimes called total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).

In this heart defect, the lung blood vessels (pulmonary veins) are attached to the wrong place in the heart.

Normally, oxygen-rich blood goes from the lungs to the upper left heart chamber (left atrium) and then flows through the body. In TAPVR, an abnormal connection of veins sends blood through the upper right heart chamber (right atrium) instead, where it mixes with oxygen-poor blood. As a result, blood flowing to the body doesn't have enough oxygen.

The specific type of TAPVR depends on where the veins connect. Most children born with TAPVR have no family history of congenital heart disease.