Redirection of Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava Using a Turned-In Left Atrial Appendage

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
• Congenital Heart Disease

Background:

• Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare congenital anomaly.
• Most commonly, PLSVC drains into the right atrium via the coronary sinus.
• Drainage into the left atrium is an uncommon variant requiring specific surgical considerations.

Observation:

• A 3-year-old male patient presented with a persistent left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium.
• Previous surgical repair techniques include extracardiac and intracardiac methods.
• A novel intracardiac repair strategy was considered for this case.

Findings:

• Successful application of a new, innovative intracardiac repair technique.
• The technique utilized a turned-in left atrial appendage for anatomical correction.
• This approach effectively managed the anomalous venous drainage in the pediatric patient.

Implications:

• This novel technique offers a potentially valuable option for treating left atrial draining PLSVC.
• It expands the armamentarium of intracardiac repair strategies for complex congenital heart defects.
• Further studies may validate this approach in a broader pediatric population.