Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Left Atrial Stenosis Induced Pulmonary Venous Arterialization and Group 2 Pulmonary Hypertension in Rat
Published on: November 18, 2018
Clinical significance of prenatally diagnosed persistent left superior vena cava
Didem Esin1, Berna Aslan Çetin1, Gökalp Şenol2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Aims:
The aim of our study was to investigate the persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) cases diagnosed in the prenatal period in our clinic and to compare the obstetric and genetic outcomes of isolated PLSVC cases with cases accompanied by other cardiac or extracardiac anomalies.
Methods:
The cases diagnosed as PLSVC between January 2015 and January 2019 in our perinatology clinic were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into two subgroups as isolated PLSVC and PLSVC accompanied by another anomaly. Furthermore, patients with extra anomalies were divided into three groups which are cardiac anomaly, extracardiac anomaly and those with both. The groups were compared in terms of genetic results and obstetric outcomes.
Results:
89 patients were included in our study. Cases with positive pregnancy outcomes were significantly higher in the isolated PLSVC group than with extra anomaly group (p < 0.001). No karyotype anomaly was observed in the isolated group. Pregnancy results were significantly worse (postpartum demise, termination of pregnancy, in utero demise) in with both cardiac and extracardiac anomalies group (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of karyotype results (p = 0.535).
Conclusion:
The diagnosis of PLSVC has gained importance and it can be made easier due to the fact that anatomic imaging can be performed in more detail. The isolated PLSVC cases have a very good prognosis. Obstetric outcomes vary according to the accompanying anomaly.
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Systemic Veins
The coronary sinus, the heart's principal vein, resides in the coronary sulcus on the heart's posterior aspect. This broad venous channel receives nearly all venous blood from the myocardium, the heart muscle. It is fed by three primary veins: the great cardiac vein, the...
Fetal Circulation
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...
Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Veins of the Abdomen and Pelvis
The inferior vena cava is fed by numerous smaller veins. The lumbar veins, for instance, drain the posterior abdominal wall, emptying both directly into the inferior vena cava and into the...
Veins of Thorax
The azygos vein, positioned just right of the midline and anterior to the vertebral column, begins at the junction of the right ascending lumbar and subcostal veins, terminating in the superior vena cava. This vein drains blood from the right side of the thoracic wall, thoracic viscera, and posterior abdominal wall.
The...

