OBJECTIVETo review the surgical treatment of supracardiac type of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC).

METHODSTwenty-four patients with supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection underwent surgical correction from July 1995 to June 2004. There were 11 males, 13 females. The patients aged from 40 days to 35 years (mean 4.5 years). Twenty-three patients were under 6 years old. The weight was from 3.8 to 54.0 kg (mean 17.5 kg). Ten patients were through right atrial incision, 8 through double-atrium incision to anastomose the left atria and the common pulmonary veins. Two used large patches separating the portal of the common pulmonary veins and the enlarged atrial septal defects to the left atria. The left atrium and the common pulmonary veins were anastomosed in one case using a large patch separating the portal of the common pulmonary vein and the enlarged atrial septal defect to the left atrium. Three anastomosed the top of the left atria and the common pulmonary veins.

RESULTSOne patient died postoperatively of low cardiac output syndrome. One with cardiac tamponade after operation was cured by reoperation. Six with arrhythia were all cured. One with acute pulmonary edema was cured by reopen of the vertical vein and closed later. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 7 years (mean 2.5 years). One complicated severe supracardiac arrhythia 2 weeks later. One with late pulmonary occlusion was cured by reoperation. There was no long term complication of the others.

CONCLUSIONSThe operative methods of TAPVC depend on the cardiac deformation. Proper surgery timely treatment of the postoperative complications may achieve a satisfactory result. The method of only use patch in the right atrium should select proper repair material. Anastomosing the top of the left atrium and the common pulmonary vein is a good method. It is easy for exposure and operating, meanwhile it has low occurrence of arrhythmias and should be recommended.