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Drainage of the inferior vena cava to the left atrium
Haran Burri1, Cédric Vuille, Jorge Sierra
1Cardiology Division, Geneva University Hospitals, 24 rue Micheli-du-Crest, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. burri-haran@diogenes.hcuge.ch
Insights
Congenital drainage of the inferior vena cava to the left atrium is rare. Surgical repair successfully reconstructed the interatrial septum, redirecting blood flow to the right atrium.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Inferior vena cava (IVC) to left atrial drainage is an extremely rare congenital heart anomaly.
- Diagnosis and management strategies for this condition are not well-established due to its rarity.
Observation:
- A 54-year-old woman presented with symptoms suggestive of this rare cardiac defect.
- Transthoracic echocardiography initially suggested the diagnosis.
- Transesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the IVC to left atrial drainage and identified a secundum atrial septal defect.
Findings:
- Diagnostic imaging confirmed the anomalous drainage of the inferior vena cava to the left atrium.
- An associated secundum atrial septal defect was also identified.
- Surgical intervention involved interatrial septum reconstruction to correctly route the IVC into the right atrium.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of advanced imaging in diagnosing rare congenital heart diseases.
- Successful surgical management demonstrates a viable treatment option for this anomaly.
- Reviewing literature on similar cases can improve understanding and treatment protocols for IVC to left atrial drainage.
Abstract:
Drainage of the inferior vena cava to the left atrium is an extremely unusual congenital heart disease. We describe a 54-year-old woman, in whom the diagnosis was suggested by transthoracic echocardiography, and then confirmed by a transesophageal exam and magnetic resonance imaging, which also revealed an associated secundum atrial septal defect. Surgical management involved reconstruction of the interatrial septum to include the inferior vena cava in the right atrium. The few previously reported cases in the literature are reviewed.