Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) represents the most frequent congenital malformation of the thoracic venous drainage system. In adults referred to surgery for an acquired cardiac disease, abnormal venous drainage may be missed if not carefully researched. Discovering a previously undiagnosed PLSVC during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may present some inconvenience for both the perfusionist and the surgeon, especially during a minimally invasive approach. The authors believe PLSVC probably may represent an under-reported condition. A careful screening of patients undergoing cardiac surgery may prove helpful. In particular, a complete echocardiographic study may help to better diagnose this condition before surgery.

Different signs may raise the suspicion of PLSVC and should be carefully researched during preoperative patient work-up.

Keywords

left superior vena cava vascular malformations echocardiography cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)perfusion surgery complications

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Danielpour PJ , Aalberg JK , El- Ramey M. , Sivina M. , Wodnicki H. Persistent left superior vena cava: an incidental finding during central venous catheterisation - a case report. Vasc Endovascular Surg 2005; 39: 109-111.

Pálinkás A. , Nagy E. , Forster T. , Morvai Z. , Nagy E. , Varga A. A case of absent right and persistent left superior vena cava. Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2006; 4: 6.

Uçar O. , Paşaoğlu L. , Ciçekçioğlu H. , Vural M. , Kocaoğlu I. , Aydoğdu S. Persistent left superior vena cava with absent right superior vena cava: a case report and review of the literature. Cardiovasc J Afr 2010 May-Jun; 21(3): 164-166

Fischer DR , Zuberbuhler JR Anomalous systemic venous return. In: Anderson RH , Baker E , Macartney RF , eds. Paediatric Cardiology. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 2002: 851-865.

Kortner A. , Keyser A. , Schmid C. Cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with absent right but persistent left superior vena cava. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009 Jun; 57(4): 232-233.

Sato Y. , Yokoyama H. , Watanabe M. , Hamada O. A surgical case of combined valvular disease complicated by absent right superior vena cava and persistent left superior vena cava. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2003 Dec; 9(6): 401-405.

Bartram U. , van Praagh S. , Levine JC , Hines M. , Bensky AS , van Praagh R. Absent right superior vena cava in visceroatrial situs solitus. Am J Cardiol 1997; 80: 175-183.

Postema PG , Rammeloo LA , van Litsenburg R. , Rothuis EG , Hruda J. Left superior vena cava in pediatric cardiology associated with extracardiac anomalies. Int J Cardiol 2008; 123: 302-306.

Morgan DR , Hanratty CG , Dixon LJ , Trimble M. , O’Keeffe DB Anomalies of cardiac venous drainage associated with abnormalities of cardiac conduction system. Europace 2002; 4: 281-287.

10.

Lenox CC , Hashida Y. , Anderson RH , Hubbard JD Conduction tissue anomalies in absence of the right superior caval vein. Int J Cardiol 1985; 8: 251-260.

11.

James TN , Marshall TK , Edwards JE Cardiac electrical instability in the presence of a left superior vena cava . Circulation 1976; 54: 689-697.

12.

Choi JY , Anderson RH , Macartney FJ Absent right superior caval vein (vena cava) with normal atrial arrangement . Br Heart J 1987; 57: 474-478.

13.

Zellers TM , Hagler DJ , Julsrud PR Accuracy of two-dimensional echocardiography in diagnosing left superior vena cava. J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1989; 2: 132-138.

14.

Bouzas-Mosquera A. , Prada O. , Alvarez-García N. Demonstration of bilateral superior vena cava by contrast echocardiography. Arch Cardiovasc Dis 2009 Aug-Sep; 102(8-9): 665-666.

15.

Recupero A. , Pugliatti P. , Rizzo F. , et al. Persistent left-sided superior vena cava: integrated non-invasive diagnosis. Echocardiography 2007; 24: 982-986.

16.

Neema PK , Manikandan S. , Rathod RC Absent right superior vena cava and persistent left superior vena cava: the perioperative implications. Anesth Analg 2007 ; 105: 40-42.

17.

Yuce M. , Kizilkan N. , Kus E. , Davutoglu V. , Sari I. Giant coronary sinus and absent right superior vena cava. Vasa. 2011; 40(1): 65-67.

18.

Boussuges A. , Ambrosi P. , Gainnier M. , et al. Left-sided superior vena cava: diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging. Intens Care Med 1997; 23: 702-703.

19.

Di Cesare E. , Anselmi M. Dynamic angio-MRI demonstration of persistent left superior vena cava in the absence of the right superior vena cava. J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) 2009 Jan; 10(1): 107-108.

Recognition of persistent left superior vena cava in non-congenital patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References