title: [Persistent left superior vena cava: infrequent localization of central venous catheter].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to report a Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava in a critically ill patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intensive care unit of a referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 52 years-old male without previous cardiovascular disease was admitted to the intensive care unit due to cranial trauma. A central left subclavian vein catheter was placed at his arrival at the center chest X-ray showed the catheter in the left of the cardiac silhohuete without hemo-pneumothorax. A angiographic evaluation through central venous catheter showed persistent left superior vena cava draining to the coronary sinus and right atrium with normal permeability of right superior vena cava. Other congenital alterations were excluded. Chest computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis. Persistent left superior vena cava is a congenital vascular abnormality. The intensive care unit staff must be aware of this vascular abnormality because it can complicate central venous catheterization.
authors.affiliation: Academia Mexicana de Cirugía, Postgrado de Medicina del Enfermo en Estado Crítico, Mexico. seconcapcma@mail.medinet.net.mx
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carrillo-Esper
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Contreras-Domínguez
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salmerón-Nájera
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carvajal-Ramos
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hernández-Aguilar
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Juárez-Uribe
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous; D016638:Critical Illness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging