Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return

In the normal heart, pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left side of the heart (left atrium), which pumps the oxygenated blood to the body. In a heart with Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (APVR(, the pulmonary veins connect to the right atrium, where the oxygenated blood mixes with the un-oxygenated blood through a hole in between the left and right atria. The mixed blood does not provide enough oxygen for the entire body.

The surgical repair of anomalous pulmonary veins involves the redirection of the abnormal veins to the left atrium, usually by connecting them directly to the back wall of the atrium.