The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 23, 436-441, Copyright © 1977 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Tree-shaped pulmonary veins in infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage
Y Kawashima, H Matsuda, S Nakano, K Miyamoto and M Fujino
Three consecutive patients undergoing corrective operation for the
infracardiac type of total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (TAPVD) were
found to have tree-shaped pulmonary veins. Preoperative angiocardiography
revealed that in 2 patients the superior and inferior pulmonary veins
drained separately, bilaterally, into the vertical vein. In the third
patient the right pulmonary veins united to connect with the vertical vein,
while the left superior and inferior pulmonary veins drained separately
into the vertical vein. At operation inferior pulmonary veins connecting
separately with the vertical vein were found to be located posterior to the
pericardium. In the previous literature dealing with successful repair of
infracardiac TAPVD, there is no mention of the tree-shaped pulmonary veins
described in this report. As this particular type of pulmonary vein does
not seem to be uncommon, its possible presence should be kept in mind
during operation, as it may dictate the selection of surgical procedures.