Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) (pronounced TOHT-l uh-NOM-uh-luh-s PUHL-muh-ner-ee VEE-nuh-s ri-TURN), or connection (TAPVC) is a birth defect of the heart in which the veins bringing blood back from the lungs pulmonary veins) don’t connect to the left atrium like usual.

Is TAPVC normal?

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) is a rare congenital malformation in which all four pulmonary veins do not connect normally to the left atrium. Instead the four pulmonary veins drain abnormally to the right atrium (right upper chamber) by way of an abnormal (anomalous) connection.

Is TAPVC a congenital heart defect?

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) is a rare heart defect that’s present at birth (congenital heart defect). It is sometimes called total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). In this heart defect, the lung blood vessels (pulmonary veins) are attached to the wrong place in the heart.