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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 8, 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 draining into the left atrium.

Patrick Tobbia¹, Leslie A Norris, Timothy Lane

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Cone Health, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. tobbia@gmail.com

BMJ Case Reports

|August 28, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Necrotising fasciitis in a 40-year-old man led to the discovery of a persistent left superior vena cava. Systemic emboli also caused altered mental status, highlighting complex patient presentations.

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Area of Science:

Cardiology
Infectious Diseases
Radiology

Background:

Necrotising fasciitis is a severe soft tissue infection requiring prompt diagnosis and management.
Congenital anomalies of the superior vena cava, such as persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC), are often asymptomatic and discovered incidentally.

Observation:

A 40-year-old male presented with necrotising fasciitis of the right thigh, with dental abscesses suspected as the infectious source.
During diagnostic workup for the infection, transesophageal echocardiography incidentally revealed a persistent left superior vena cava, later confirmed by cardiac MRI.
The patient subsequently developed altered mental status attributed to systemic emboli, identified via head MRI.

Findings:

The patient received 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy for necrotising fasciitis.
The persistent left superior vena cava was identified as an incidental congenital anomaly.
Systemic emboli were diagnosed as the cause of altered mental status.

Implications:

This case underscores the importance of comprehensive evaluation in patients with severe infections, as incidental findings can reveal significant underlying conditions.
The presence of a persistent left superior vena cava may have implications for future medical interventions and cardiovascular health.
Co-occurrence of severe infection, congenital vascular anomaly, and embolic events highlights the complexity of patient management and the need for multidisciplinary care.