Intrapulmonary vertical vein associated with an infracardiac type of totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

Abstract

We encountered 2 cases of a very rare type of anomalous pulmonary venous drainage associated with infracardiac type of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. The pulmonary vein from the entire left lung traversed the posterior mediastinum and joined the right pulmonary vein at the hilum. Furthermore, a large drainage vein coursed caudally through the pulmonary parenchyma and penetrated the diaphragm. The morphology of the pulmonary venous system could not be delineated by preoperative echocardiography. It should be noted that the vertical vein of this variant cannot be found, even if the posterior mediastinum is extensively dissected during operation, and exploration of the pleural cavity is necessary.