Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026
Image Acquisition Method for the Sonographic Assessment of the Inferior Vena Cava
Published on: January 13, 2023
[Left superior vena cava and anomalies associated with it]
Luis Muñoz Castellanos1, Magdalena Kuri Nivon, Rafael R Zapata Carreón
1Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Departamento de Embriología, INCICH, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan 14080 México, D.F.
Insights
Persistent left superior vena cava occurs in association with congenital heart disease. This study analyzed 66 hearts, finding variations in venous return and cardiac anomalies, highlighting surgical significance.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Cardiology
- Developmental Biology
Context:
- Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare congenital anomaly.
- Understanding its prevalence and association with congenital heart disease (CHD) is crucial for clinical practice.
Purpose:
- To determine the frequency of PLSVC and its associated congenital heart diseases.
- To analyze the morphology of superior systemic venous return and cardiac anomalies in hearts with situs solitus and isomeric situs.
Summary:
- A study of 1277 necropsies identified 66 hearts with variations in superior vena cava. Group I (situs solitus) showed PLSVC with coronary sinus connection in 33 hearts, frequently associated with ventricular septal defects and atrioventricular connection anomalies.
- Group II (isomeric situs) had 34 hearts with absent coronary sinus and venous connections in the atrial roof. 19 hearts had double superior vena cava, and 15 had only left superior vena cava, often with complex CHD.
- PLSVC develops from the persistence of embryonic venous connections. Its presence has significant surgical implications, especially when co-occurring with congenital heart disease.
Impact:
- Provides data on the prevalence of PLSVC and its associated cardiac malformations.
- Highlights the importance of recognizing PLSVC in the context of congenital heart disease for surgical planning.
- Contributes to the understanding of complex congenital heart anomalies and their embryological basis.
Abstract:
In order to assess the frequency of persistent left superior vena cava as well as the associated congenital heart disease, 66 hearts were studied from 1277 necropsies of the pathologic collection of the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez". They were analyzed with the sequential segmental approach. It was determined: atrial situs types and modes of atrioventricular and ventricular arterial connections, morphology of the superior systemic venous return and associated cardiopathies. 33 hearts had situs solitus (group I) and 34 hearts had isomeric situs (Group II) (30 with dextroisomerism and 4 with levoisomerism). The group I showed double superior vena cava, the left one had continuation with the sinus coronary; in 25 of them the left brachiocephalic vein was absent, in 6 this vein was present, 5 with narrow lumen and in one it was dilated (specimen with atresia of the Tebesian valve). The more frequent congenital heart disease were ventricular septal defects, troncoconal cardiopathies and anomalies in the atrioventricular connection. The hearts of group II did not have coronary sinus; the venous connections were in the atrial roof. 19 hearts had double superior vena cava and 15 specimens had only the left one. The congenital heart disease in this group were complex with multiple patterns of association. Left superior vena cava is developed as a consequence of persistence of the continuation of the left anterior and left common cardinal veins with the left horn of sinus venosus when the proximal segment of these veins did not disappear. The left superior vena cava has surgical significance when congenital heart disease is present.
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