Hypoxia caused by persistent left superior vena cava connecting to the left atrium a rare clinical entity

We relate the case of a 40-year-old man with a history of premature birth and dextroposition of the heart who presented for an evaluation of persistent hypoxia. An unrevealing pulmonary evaluation and agitated-saline echocardiogram led to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. This revealed a very unus...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Texas Heart Institute journal 2012-01, Vol.39 (5), p.662-664
Main Authors: Freeman, Andrew M, Fenster, Brett E, Weinberger, Howard D, Buckner, J Kern, Lynch, David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Case Reports
Dextrocardia - complications
Echocardiography - methods
Electrocardiography
Heart Atria - abnormalities
Heart Defects, Congenital - complications
Heart Defects, Congenital - diagnosis
Humans
Hypoxia - etiology
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Predictive Value of Tests
Premature Birth
Sodium Chloride
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Vena Cava, Superior - abnormalities
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Summary:We relate the case of a 40-year-old man with a history of premature birth and dextroposition of the heart who presented for an evaluation of persistent hypoxia. An unrevealing pulmonary evaluation and agitated-saline echocardiogram led to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. This revealed a very unusual finding: a persistent left superior vena cava with insertion into the left atrium and a small connecting vein between the right and left superior venae cavae. The implications, embryology, and pathogenesis of this rare condition are discussed.
ISSN:0730-2347
1526-6702