Concepts and practices in surgery for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection

In the last ten years there have been extensive refinements in the surgical approach to total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). This communication reviews determinants of hospital mortality and controversies in surgical management. As examples of current experiences with repair of TAPVC, recent results at the University of Alabama and a combined analysis of hospital mortality for Alabama, Children's Hospital Medical Center in Boston, and Green Lane Hospital are reported. From July, 1974 to July 1977 the Alabama hospital mortality among the 17 infants with supracardiac, cardiac and infracardiac TAPVC was 12% (2 infants).