sofidexFor patientsAre you a clinician? Clinical site
Ask Sofi
Listen
Patient SupportEmergencies & Reporting
Log inSign up

Warning-sign checks

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Seek emergency medical help now if a baby or child has:

    • Severe or rapidly worsening breathing difficulty
    • Blue or gray lips or tongue, especially with breathing problems
    • Collapse, unresponsiveness, or extreme difficulty waking
    • Signs of poor circulation, such as cold mottled skin with unusual sleepiness
    • Sudden severe symptoms after heart surgery

    Use local emergency services rather than travelling without medical support if the child is severely unwell.

    These symptoms may need assessment but are not always an emergency.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact the congenital heart team promptly for new fast breathing, sweating or tiring with feeds, reduced feeding, repeated vomiting, poor weight gain, increasing tiredness, or a noticeable fall in activity.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Routine appointments remain important when there are no symptoms.

    They allow the team to monitor growth, the repaired pulmonary veins, heart rhythm, heart function, and pressure in the lungs.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Total anomalous pulmonary venous return. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.