Anomalous great cardiac vein

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Anatomy
• Interventional Cardiology
• Cardiac Surgery

Background:

• Anomalous coronary venous anatomy is understudied and crucial for interventions assuming normal venous structures.
• Recognizing anomalies disconnecting myocardium from the coronary sinus is vital for cardiothoracic surgeons.
• Retrograde cardioplegia and coronary venous retroperfusion rely on intact coronary sinus connections.

Observation:

• A rare case of an anomalous great cardiac vein is presented.
• This anomalous vein bypassed the coronary sinus.
• The vein drained directly into the superior vena cava.

Findings:

• The study details a specific coronary vein anomaly.
• The great cardiac vein's unusual drainage pattern was identified.
• This finding highlights a deviation from typical coronary venous anatomy.

Implications:

• Antecedent imaging of the coronary venous system may be beneficial.
• Pre-procedural imaging could enhance patient safety in cardiac interventions.
• Understanding rare venous anomalies is critical for surgical planning and success.