Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava: What the Interventional Nephrologist Needs to Know
- 1 July 2009
- journal article
- case report
- Published by SAGE Publications in The Journal of Vascular Access
- Vol. 10 (3), 207-211
- https://doi.org/10.1177/112972980901000313
Abstract
Variations in the course of the blood vessels are often incidental findings during clinical examination. Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is an uncommon anomaly, estimated to be present in about 0.3–0.5% of healthy individuals and in about 3–10% of patients with congenital heart disease. It results from the failure of the left anterior cardinal vein to degenerate during embryological development. Serious complications such as shock, angina and cardiac arrest have been described during catheterization in adults with a PLSVC. Since it frequently goes undiagnosed because of lack of symptoms when not accompanied by other anomalies, variations of the superior vena cava should be considered, especially when central venous catheterization via the subclavian or internal jugular vein is difficult. The embryological development, diagnosis, and clinical implications of a PLSVC are therefore reviewed in this article.Keywords
This publication has 19 references indexed in Scilit:
- Endocavitary electrocardiography during central vein catheter positioning in a newborn with persistent left superior vena cava.The Journal of Vascular Access, 2009
- Catheterization of a persistent left superior vena cava.The Journal of Vascular Access, 2009
- Persistent left superior vena cava: Case reports and clinical implicationsInternational Journal of Cardiology, 2006
- ASDM Clinical Case Focus: Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava: Diagnosis and Implications for the Interventional NephrologistSeminars in Dialysis, 2006
- The persistent left superior vena cava: anatomical study, pathogenesis and clinical considerationsSurgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2006
- Persistent left superior vena cava and central venous catheter position: clinical impact illustrated by four casesSurgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2003
- A case of a persistent left vena cava superior with atresia of the right atrial ostium of the coronary sinusAnnals of Anatomy - Anatomischer Anzeiger, 2000
- Discovery of left-sided superior vena cava during central venous catheterizationBritish Journal of Anaesthesia, 1998
- Left-sided superior vena cavaCritical Care Medicine, 1992
- Pathogenesis of Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava with a Coronary Sinus ConnectionPediatric Pathology, 1991