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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Image Acquisition Method for the Sonographic Assessment of the Inferior Vena Cava

Image Acquisition Method for the Sonographic Assessment of the Inferior Vena Cava

Published on: January 13, 2023

Persistent left superior vena cava: a blessing in disguise.

Naser Imran¹, Blair Grubb, Yousuf Kanjwal

¹Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Toledo Medical Center, 3000 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.

Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology

|March 6, 2008

Summary

Persistent left superior vena cava (SVC) is rare but can be beneficial. In a patient needing a cardiac device upgrade, a persistent left SVC provided an alternative access route when the usual left subclavian vein became occluded.

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Computed Tomography (CT) Guided Implantation of a Totally Implantable Venous Access Port (TIVAP) through Subclavian Vein

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Published on: January 13, 2026

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Last Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Image Acquisition Method for the Sonographic Assessment of the Inferior Vena Cava

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Published on: January 13, 2023

Computed Tomography (CT) Guided Implantation of a Totally Implantable Venous Access Port (TIVAP) through Subclavian Vein

Computed Tomography (CT) Guided Implantation of a Totally Implantable Venous Access Port (TIVAP) through Subclavian Vein

Published on: January 13, 2026

Area of Science:

Cardiology
Vascular Anatomy

Background:

Persistent left superior vena cava (SVC) is a rare congenital anomaly.
It is typically identified during central venous catheterization procedures.
This anomaly can present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Observation:

A patient with biventricular failure required a cardiac device upgrade to a cardiac resynchronization implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
The patient had a known persistent left SVC.
The patient subsequently developed total occlusion of the left subclavian-innominate venous system.

Findings:

The persistent left SVC served as a crucial alternative venous access route for the cardiac device implantation.
This anomaly facilitated successful device implantation despite the occlusion of the contralateral venous system.
The case highlights the potential utility of persistent left SVC in complex cardiac device procedures.

Implications:

Persistent left SVC, though uncommon, can be a valuable anatomical variant in specific clinical scenarios.
Awareness of this anomaly is essential for interventional cardiologists and electrophysiologists.
This case suggests that persistent left SVC may offer a salvage pathway for venous access in patients with complex venous anatomy or occlusion.