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Right superior vena cava draining into the left atrium in a patient with sinus venosus defect
Meletios Kanakis1, Thomas Martens2, Cleo Laskari3
1Department of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.
Insights
A rare congenital heart anomaly, right superior vena cava draining into the left atrium, was observed in a 9-year-old. This case highlights variations in systemic venous return and associated defects.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Anatomy
Background:
- Congenital anomalies of systemic venous return are uncommon.
- The right superior vena cava (RSVC) typically drains into the right atrium.
Observation:
- A 9-year-old patient presented with an extremely rare anomaly: RSVC draining into the left atrium.
- This was associated with a sinus venosus defect and bilateral superior vena cava.
Findings:
- The patient was asymptomatic, indicating that such anomalies can be clinically silent.
- Detailed imaging confirmed the anomalous venous connection and associated atrial septal defect.
Implications:
- This case expands the understanding of systemic venous return variations.
- Highlights the importance of thorough cardiac evaluation in diagnosing rare congenital heart defects.
Abstract:
Right superior vena cava draining into the left atrium is an extremely rare anomaly of systemic venous return. It can be isolated or it can be associated with other congenital heart defects, thus clinical presentation may vary. A case of a 9-year-old asymptomatic patient with sinus venous defect and bilateral superior vena cava with the right-sided draining into the left atrium is described.
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