Images in vascular medicine. The persistent left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium via the left superior pulmonary vein.

摘要

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare congenital venous anomaly and yet the most commonly described thoracic venous anomaly with an estimated prevalence of 0.3% in the general population. The prevalence of PLSVC is as high as 4-10% in patients with congenital heart disease. The cause of this anomaly is the failure of closure of the left anterior cardinal vein during cardiac development. In the majority of cases (e.g. approximately 90%), the PLSVC drains into the right atrium via the coronary sinus, and is asymptomatic. However, PLSVC rarely (< 10%) drains into the left atrium and can be associated with other congenital cardiac defects. This form is characterized by the presence of a right-to-left shunt associated with a relatively high risk of air or septic embolism and paradoxical thromboembolism in the systemic circulation.