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Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Image Acquisition Method for the Sonographic Assessment of the Inferior Vena Cava
Published on: January 13, 2023
Anatomy of the superior vena cava and brachiocephalic veins
W Frederick Bennett1, Fawaz Altaf, Jean Deslauriers
1Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster University, St Joseph's Healthcare, Juravinski Innovation Tower, 2nd Floor, Room T2105J, 50 Charlton Avenue East, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4A6, Canada.
Abstract:
The venous side of the systemic vascular circulation returns the left ventricular cardiac output in a converging fashion to the superior and inferior vena cava and hence to the right atrium. Oxygenated blood is returned to the left atrium. The volumes of these 2 systems are in balance in a normal physiologic state.
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