Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: helical computed tomography as an alternative to angiography

Echocardiographic evaluation of the pulmonary veins is inadequate at times. Cardiac catheterization, especially in sick neonates, may be a high-risk procedure. Helical computed tomography with three-dimensional reconstruction is noninvasive but remains an underutilized modality.

Between January 2002 and February 2003, 7 computed tomography scans of children 3 weeks to 5 years of age were performed to evaluate the drainage of the pulmonary veins in suspected total anomalous venous drainage. Helical computed tomography (GE High speed Advantage) was performed using 2 mm sections, and rapid bolus hand injections of 2 ml/kg body-weight of nonionic intravenous contrast. Sagittal and coronal reformats, and three-dimensional reconstructions were performed, and reviewed by the radiologist. The findings were discussed with the pediatric cardiologist and surgeon involved in the case. The diagnoses included complex congenital heart disease (n = 5), isolated infradiaphragmatic total anomalous pulmonary venous connections (n = 1), and transposition of the great arteries with total anomalous pulmonary venous connections (n = 1). Cardiac computed tomography accurately demonstrated infradiaphragmatic total anomalous pulmonary venous connections in 4, and supracardiac drainage in 3 patients, in addition to the other cardiac findings. The findings on computed tomography scan correlated with surgical (n = 5) and/or angiographic findings (n = 2) in 7 patients.

In sick, high-risk patients, cardiac computed tomography can be considered as an alternative to cardiac catheterization for the evaluation of pulmonary venous drainage.