title: Perioperative management of a levoatrial cardinal vein in the absence of the brachiocephalic vein.
abstract: Levoatrial cardinal vein is a rare congenital anomaly of the systemic veins. It is commonly associated with left-sided obstructive conditions such as aortic atresia, mitral atresia, and cor triatriatum. We report the case of a 14-year-old boy who was undergoing surgery for correction of a secundum atrial septal defect. Intraoperatively, we discovered that he had a levoatrial cardinal vein and no brachiocephalic vein. However, collateral vessels provided adequate flow to the right atrium, and the patient's left-sided venous pressure was not excessive, so we ligated the levoatrial cardinal vein and directly repaired the septal defect. Postoperatively, the left venous drainage was satisfactory and the patient was asymptomatic. In addition to our patient's case, we discuss the embryology, diagnosis, and treatment of levoatrial cardinal vein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, Inonu University, 44280 Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Olcay Murat
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Disli
authors.forename: Bektas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Battaloglu
authors.forename: Nevzat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Erdil
authors.forename: Cemsit
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karakurt
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Elkiran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016121:Brachiocephalic Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Heart atria/abnormalities/surgery; heart defects, congenital/surgery; treatment outcome