Absent right superior vena cava and persistent left superior vena cava: An incidental finding

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging
• Congenital Abnormalities

Background:

• Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder affecting connective tissue.
• Congenital anomalies of the superior vena cava (SVC) are rare but can impact cardiac surgery.
• The Bentall operation is a complex procedure for aortic root and ascending aorta disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of absent right SVC and persistent left SVC in a patient with Marfan syndrome undergoing Bentall operation.
• To highlight the diagnostic methods for identifying this anomaly.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a patient with Marfan syndrome.
• Diagnostic imaging including agitated saline contrast echocardiography and computed tomography (CT) of the chest.

Main Results:

• The patient was found to have an absent right SVC and a persistent left SVC.
• Dilation of the coronary sinus was an initial indicator.
• Echocardiography and CT confirmed the diagnosis of persistent left SVC.

Conclusions:

• Persistent left superior vena cava is a rare congenital anomaly.
• Accurate pre-operative diagnosis is crucial for surgical planning in complex cardiac procedures.
• Multimodal imaging is effective in diagnosing venous anomalies.