Anomalous drainage of isolated superior caval vein to the left atrium: the oldest reported unrepaired case

Cardiol Young. 2017 Jul;27(5):1008-1010. doi: 10.1017/S1047951116002808. Epub 2017 Feb 15.

Abstract

Isolated right superior caval vein drainage into the left atrium is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly usually presenting with hypoxaemia and cyanosis. Surgical repair is the definitive treatment for this condition. In this report, we present the case of a 72-year-old patient with uncorrected anomalous drainage of a right superior caval vein into the left atrium, first diagnosed in the 1960s. To the best of our knowledge, this is the oldest reported unrepaired case.

Keywords: Superior caval vein; brain abscess; hypoxia; left atrium; paradoxical emboli.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Brain Abscess / complications
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Cyanosis / etiology
  • Echocardiography
  • Embolism, Paradoxical / complications
  • Female
  • Heart Atria / abnormalities
  • Heart Atria / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / etiology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / abnormalities
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / diagnostic imaging*
  • Vena Cava, Superior / abnormalities
  • Vena Cava, Superior / diagnostic imaging*