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Updated: Sep 25, 2025

Comprehensive Endovascular and Open Surgical Management of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations
Published on: October 20, 2017
Silent Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava Right-to-Left Shunt as a Unique Cause of Recurrent Brain Abscesses
Addie B Spier1,2, Diana David3, Moamen Al Zoubi1,2
1Division of Infectious Disease, Mercyhealth, Rockford, Illinois, USA.
Abstract:
We present a novel case of recurrent brain abscesses found to be the result of a silent congenital right-to-left extracardiac shunt, a persistent left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium. The patient's brain abscess was evacuated surgically and treated with antibiotics, and his shunt was subsequently repaired. The case suggests that attention should be paid to evaluation for shunt physiology allowing for bypass of the pulmonary circulation in those with recurrent brain abscesses.
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