What is TAPVC? Cardiology Basics

What is TAPVC? Cardiology Basics
TAPVC stands for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. It is also known as TAPVD or total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. Normally, pulmonary veins join the left atrium. When it drains to the right atrium through one of the blood vessels leading to the right atrium, it is known as TAPVC. If only some of the four pulmonary veins join the right side of the heart, then it is called PAPVC or partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection.
When all the pulmonary veins join the right side of the heart instead of the left side, an atrial septal defect (ASD) is needed to maintain life. Otherwise body will not get any oxygenated blood. Oxygenated blood returning from the lungs to the right side of the heart gets pumped back to the lungs. If there is no ASD, the left ventricle may not get any blood to pump at all! Blood returning from the body to the right side of the heart also will get pumped to the lungs.
Due to the mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in the right atrium, the blood pumped out into the body is desaturated. This produces cyanosis of lips, tongue, and skin. Thus, TAPVC is a cyanotic congenital heart disease. Part of the blood returning from the lungs can get recirculated to the lungs, increasing the pulmonary blood flow. Increased pulmonary blood flow can cause pulmonary hypertension in the long run.
There are basically four types of TAPVC. Most common variety is supracardiac. In supracardiac TAPVC, four pulmonary vei...

Source: Cardiophile MD - October 19, 2022 Category: Cardiology Authors: Johnson Francis Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs