Total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage.

Twelve patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (TAPVD) underwent complete surgical correction. Six were of the supracardiac type, 2 were cardiac and 4 of the infracardiac type. Pulmonary hypertension due to pulmonary vein obstruction was present in 6 patients. There were 6 early deaths, which occurred on the table or soon after surgery. One patient died 8 months after the operation because of a marked obstruction of the pulmonary venous inflow. Early diagnosis and operative correction in these severely ill patients should not be delayed. Postoperative intensive care and long-term follow-up are of the greatest importance.