Persistent left superior vena cava

Cardiovasc J Afr. 2017 May 23;28(3):e1-e4. doi: 10.5830/CVJA-2016-084.

Abstract

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is the most common congenital malformation of thoracic venous return and is present in 0.3 to 0.5% of individuals in the general population. This heart specimen was dissected from a 35-year-old male cadaver whose cause of death was determined as non-cardiac. The heart was examined and we found a PLSVC draining into the coronary sinus. The right superior vena cava was present with a small-diameter ostium. An anomalous pulmonary vein pattern was observed; there was a common trunk to the left superior and left inferior pulmonary veins (diameter 17.8 mm) and an additional middle right pulmonary vein (diameter 2.7 mm) with two classic right pulmonary veins. The PLSVC draining into the coronary sinus had led to its enlargement, which could have altered the cardiac haemodynamics by significantly reducing the size of the left atrium and impeding its outflow via the mitral valve.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Coronary Sinus / abnormalities
  • Coronary Sinus / pathology
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies / pathology
  • Heart Atria / abnormalities*
  • Heart Atria / pathology
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pulmonary Veins / abnormalities
  • Pulmonary Veins / pathology
  • Vena Cava, Superior / abnormalities*
  • Vena Cava, Superior / pathology