A new surgical approach for correction of partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage into the superior vena cava.

Nine children with partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage into the superior vena cava were operated upon. The technique consisted essentially of partitioning and enlargement of the superior vena cava. The partitioning was done in all but one patient, with a longitudinal suture starting above the highest pulmonary vein directing the pulmonary venous flow through the enlarged atrial septal defect into the left atrium. The anterior cavo-auricular tunnel was enlarged with a right atrial appendage-superior vena cava angioplasty. Follow-up studies were done between 1 and 3 years after surgery. The hemodynamic data were normal in 7 patients. In 8 children, the superior vena cava was unobstructed and its diameter was normal as demonstrated by cavograms. In all patients, the angiographic evaluation of the pulmonary venous return was normal. These results are encouraging and indicate that this new approach is superior to those which have previously been reported.