Emergent Operation for Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return with pulmonary venous obstruction is one of the congenital heart diseases requiring an emergent operation just after birth. The patients with this condition have severe lung congestion and pulmonary hypertension, and cannot survive without relief of pulmonary venous obstruction. During the emergent operation, an appropriate confluence between the common pulmonary venous chamber and left atrium needs to be created under cardiopulmonary bypass. The typical approaches for the anastomosis and the anastomosis techniques are summarized in this article. At the weaning from the cardiopulmonary bypass, the necessary treatments such as nitric oxide or open chest need to be applied. The early surgical outcome for total anomalous pulmonary venous return is referenced from the Japanese National Clinical Database.