Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 9, 2025

The Supraclavicular Fossa Ultrasound View for Central Venous Catheter Placement and Catheter Change Over Guidewire
Published on: December 23, 2014
Incidental Identification of a Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava During Central Venous Catheterization: A Case
Uzain Sardar1, Hamza Ali Bukhari2, Anas J Khan1
1Anesthesia and Critical Care, Buch International Hospital, Multan, PAK.
Abstract:
A rare vascular condition called persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is frequently found incidentally when performing central venous catheterization (CVC). We report the case of a 57-year-old man, whose left-sided central line seemed to be incorrectly positioned on a chest X-ray with no associated anomalies; further imaging confirmed the presence of a PLSVC, which drained into the coronary sinus. It is important to recognize this variant in order to prevent diagnostic confusion and complications. PLSVC is typically asymptomatic, but PLSVC poses risks during invasive cardiac treatments. For safe clinical practice, it is crucial to be aware of this anatomical variation.
Related Concept Videos
Cardiac Catheterization II: Right Heart Catheterization
Cardiac Catheterization III: Left Heart Catheterization
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Cardiac Catheterization I: Pre-Procedure Overview
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...
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care

