Left-Sided Inferior Vena Cava: A Retrospective Study and Literature Review

The primary goal of this research is to delve into the clinical and pathological facets of the left-sided inferior vena cava (IVC), and to catalog and condense its radiological and clinical attributes, thereby furnishing valuable references for pertinent clinical diagnosis and therapeutic procedures.

We collated and scrutinized the general clinical features, radiological characteristics, and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of 30 patients diagnosed with left-sided IVC (LIVC) in our hospital from July 2014 through February 2024.

A majority of patients were asymptomatic and were only identified during diagnostic procedures for other ailments. CT scans revealed anomalies in the anatomical configuration of the LIVC. The radiological presentations primarily showcased the right common iliac vein traversing the lumbar vertebrae to amalgamate with the left common iliac vein, forming the IVC. The IVC ascended on the left side of the abdominal aorta, accepted the left renal vein, and then transitioned to the right side of the abdominal aorta. In 3 instances, the IVC was witnessed ascending on the left side of the abdominal aorta, permeating through the diaphragm, converging with the azygos vein and abdominal aorta, and making its way into the right atrium. In these cases, the hepatic segment of the IVC was missing, and there was an absence of the IVC inferior to the hepatic vein, a condition we refer to as complete LIVC.

LIVC is predominantly asymptomatic but carries significant anatomical implications during abdominal, retroperitoneal surgeries, and vascular interventions. Precise identification and management of this anomaly can mitigate surgical risks and enhance patient prognosis.