Overview

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR) is a rare heart defect that's present at birth (congenital heart defect). This condition may also be called partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC).

In this heart defect, some but not all of the lung blood vessels (pulmonary veins) are attached to the wrong place in the heart.

Normally, oxygen-rich blood goes from the lungs to the upper left heart chamber (left atrium) and then flows through the body. In PAPVR, an abnormal connection of veins sends blood into other blood vessels and into the upper right heart chamber (right atrium), where it mixes with oxygen-poor blood. As a result, extra oxygen-rich blood flows back to the lungs.

Some people with this heart defect also have a hole between the upper heart chambers (atrial septal defect), which allows blood to flow between the upper heart chambers (atria). Other congenital heart defects also may occur. A child born with Turner syndrome has an increased risk of PAPVR.