Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Device Implantation: Clinical and Long-Term Data

Persistent left superior vena cava (LSVC) is a rare congenital venous anomaly that may be found at the time of cardiac device lead insertion.

In this case series, we present clinical and long-term data of five patients with LSVC who underwent pacemaker (PM) or cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation during the period of 10 years.

Left-sided venous approach was used for device implantation in 3 patients with standard PM indications, whereas a right-sided venous approach and an epicardial approach had to be used in 2 patients who needed an ICD and biventricular PM, respectively. In post implantation period of 44 ± 29 months, one patient died due to stroke, one underwent heart transplantation, and 3 had atrial fibrillation.

The long-term outcome of patients with persistent LSVC and implanted cardiac devices is mostly influenced by the presence of underlying heart disease.