Absent left superior vena cava with persistent right superior vena cava in visceroatrial situs inversus

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Anatomy
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Visceroatrial situs inversus is a rare condition where major visceral organs are mirrored.
• Anomalies in venous drainage can occur in conjunction with situs inversus.
• Understanding these variations is crucial for surgical planning and diagnosis.

Observation:

• A patient with visceroatrial situs inversus presented with an unusual upper body venous drainage anomaly.
• A persistent right superior vena cava was observed draining into the left-sided right atrium via the coronary sinus.
• The left superior vena cava was absent.

Findings:

• The venous anomaly was associated with atrioventricular discordant levocardia.
• Pulmonary atresia and a ventricular septal defect were also identified.
• This constellation of findings represents a complex congenital cardiac malformation.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of detailed anatomical assessment in patients with situs inversus.
• Accurate diagnosis of venous anomalies is vital for managing associated cardiac defects.
• Such findings contribute to the understanding of developmental pathways in congenital heart disease.