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Bilateral Absence of Superior Vena Cava

Pediatric Cardiology volume 34, pages 1031–1033 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

The absence of a right superior vena cava (SVC) in situs solitus is very rare, and even then it is usually associated with left SVC. There have been few case reports in the literature of isolated bilateral absence of SVC. Bilateral absent SVC can have clinical implication, including pacemaker placements, central venous line placement, monitoring, and occasionally associated anomalies. We describe a case detected on fetal echocardiogram with bilateral absent SVC and structurally normal heart.

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Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA

    Manish Bansal, James Strainic & Ravi Ashwath

Authors
  1. Manish Bansal
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  2. James Strainic
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  3. Ravi Ashwath
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Manish Bansal.

Electronic supplementary material

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Movie 1. Fetal echocardogram showing the azygous vein connecting to the IVC. (MOV 742 kb)

Movie 2. Postnatal echocardiogram showing the connection of azygous vein to the IVC. (MOV 209 kb)

Movie 3. Postnatal echocardiogram with color showing the connection of azygous vein to the IVC. (MOV 332 kb)

246_2012_357_MOESM4_ESM.mov

Movie 4. CT angiogram showing both the azygous and hemiazygous veins joining together to drain into the IVC. (MOV 754 kb)

246_2012_357_MOESM4_ESM.mov

Movie 4. CT angiogram showing both the azygous and hemiazygous veins joining together to drain into the IVC. (MOV 754 kb)

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Bansal, M., Strainic, J. & Ashwath, R. Bilateral Absence of Superior Vena Cava. Pediatr Cardiol 34, 1031–1033 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-012-0357-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-012-0357-x

Keywords

  • Superior vena cava
  • Congenital heart disease
  • Fetal echocardiography