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ABC Medical Center > Pulmonary venous return

What is Pulmonary venous return?

22:35 - 15 February , 2024

Disease

It is a congenital heart anomaly in which the blood vessels or pulmonary veins do not connect to the left atrium of the heart, as they should, and instead, blood flows to the right atrium, causing a lack of oxygen in the body.

Pulmonary venous return, also called anomalous pulmonary venous connection, is classified according to the shape and place in which the pulmonary veins drain toward the heart. There are three types:

  • Supracardiac.
  • Cardiac.
  • Infracardiac.

Sometimes the path that blood takes from the pulmonary veins back to the heart can have narrow and obstructed areas, which can cause pulmonary congestion and hypertension.

The origin of pulmonary venous return is unknown, but it is thought that it may be due to the presence of other heart conditions since most children with this problem do not have a family history of congenital heart conditions.

Signs and symptoms Pulmonary venous return

The symptoms include:

  • Fatigue.
  • Cyanosis.
  • Increased respiratory rate.
  • Frequent respiratory infections.
  • Trouble breathing.
  • Retraction of the muscles of the rib cage.
  • Heart murmur.

If not treated in time, pulmonary venous return can cause a series of complications, such as arrhythmias, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and lung infections.

Diagnosis and treatment Pulmonary venous return

Once the doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and request various tests to confirm the diagnosis, including:

  • Cardiac ultrasound.
  • Electrocardiogram.
  • X-rays.
  • MRI.
  • Computed tomography.
  • Cardiac catheterization.

Pulmonary venous return is a condition that requires surgery, which will be done depending on the general health and the degree of the existing obstruction.

Newborns with pulmonary venous return require early surgery. However, some babies require prior treatments, such as:

  • Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.
  • Oxygen therapy.
  • Mechanic ventilation.

At the Cardiovascular Center, we offer you a wide range of prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up services to care for you through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary care model. Come to us, we want to hear your heart.

Related centers and departments

Cardiovascular Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • heart.org
  • cincinnatichildrens.org
  • stanfordchildrens.org/
  • nicklauschildrens.org
  • texasheart.org
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • msdmanuals.com
  • medigraphic.org
  • Alonso RL, Hernández MEW, Sánchez MCI, et al. Retorno venoso pulmonar anómalo total a través de persistencia de la vena cava superior izquierda. Annals of Radiology Mexico. 2012;11(2):127-130.

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