A case of an anomalous superior vena cava with anomalous pulmonary veins-when two wrongs do not make a right.
Intravenous agitated saline injection is useful in identifying right-to-left shunting at the atrial or intrapulmonary level. Anomalous systemic venous drainage to the left atrium is a rare but easily correctable cause of right-to-left shunting which, if left undiagnosed, may have serious consequences, including meningitis and pyogenic brain abscesses. This case illustrates an unusual cause of right-to-left shunting and the utility of venous microbubble injection in its diagnosis.
Hong
Susie N
SN
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA. snh73@yahoo.com
Nayar
Ambika
A
Srichai
Monvadi B
MB
Morgan
Jeffrey A
JA
Meyer
David
D
Katz
Edward
E
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*