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Image Acquisition Method for the Sonographic Assessment of the Inferior Vena Cava
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Is interrupted inferior vena cava a risk factor in cases of bilateral bidirectional Glenn?

Sameh Ibrahim Sersar1, Ahmed A Jamjoom

  • 1Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Sameh001@yahoo.com

The Heart Surgery Forum
|April 23, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Bilateral superior vena cavae (SVCs) increase the risk of interrupted inferior vena cava (IIVC) in single-ventricle patients. Identifying IIVC is crucial for managing children undergoing bilateral cavopulmonary anastomoses (CPAs).

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Congenital Heart Surgery
  • Vascular Surgery

Background:

  • Bilateral superior vena cavae (SVCs) present surgical challenges in single-ventricle palliation.
  • Bilateral SVCs have been associated with poorer outcomes in pediatric cardiac surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between bilateral SVCs and interrupted inferior vena cava (IIVC).
  • To evaluate the outcomes of children with bilateral SVCs undergoing bilateral cavopulmonary anastomoses (CPAs).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 40 children who underwent bilateral CPAs.
  • Analysis of patient demographics, cardiac morphology, and presence of IIVC.

Main Results:

  • Interrupted inferior vena cava (IIVC) was identified in 8 of 40 patients.
  • All IIVC cases were associated with a hypoplastic right ventricle.
  • Bilateral SVCs were more frequently associated with IIVC compared to single SVC.

Conclusions:

  • Bilateral SVCs in single-ventricle anatomy are often linked to IIVC.
  • Patients with bilateral CPAs and IIVC experience a challenging postoperative period.
  • Screening for IIVC is recommended in patients with bilateral SVCs prior to or during surgical planning.
Abstract

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