[Total anomalous pulmonary venous return in a 61 year-old adult]

The authors report a case of total anomalous pulmonary venous return successfully treated by surgery in a 61 year-old man. This case is unusual because of the late discovery of this congenital malformation which is usually rapidly fatal in the absence of surgical correction. This prolonged survival can be explained by the large atrial septal defect and the absence of obstruction, to pulmonary venous return and associated malformations. Surgical repair is essential to prevent the development of irreversible lesions of the right side of the heat and the pulmonary arterial bed.