[Surgical repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage--four adult cases of successful operation].

We have experienced four adult cases of total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (TAPVD). They were three females and one male, age between 18-51 with a mean of 33.8. In Darling's classification, they constituted of three cases of type Ia and one type IV. Cardiac catheterization revealed 1.71-5.93 with a mean of 3.92 in Qp/Qs and 0.34-0.49 with a mean of 0.38 in Pp/Ps. The pulmonary to systemic resistance ratio (Rp/Rs) was then calculated as 0.02-0.15 with a mean of 0.09. All cases showed short route type of drainage vein in pulmonary arteriography. None of them had stenosis or obstruction in the drainage veins. The operation was composed of anastomosis between the left atrium and the common pulmonary vein, closure of the atrial septal defect (ASD), and ligation of the drainage vein. Gersony-Malm's method was adopted in two cases and the posterior approach in two cases in anastomoses between the left atrium and the common pulmonary vein. Intraatrial approach combined with posterior approach was tried in a case with small left atrium. The mean size of ASD was 43 mm (35-55 mm) in diameter. Patch closure was performed in three cases. Important factors in survival for adult TAPVD are large ASD and short route type drainage vein without stenosis. All of four cases had good results. The operation method is variable and an easier approach must be adopted.