title: Right Heart Catheterization Through Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava, an Extremely Rare Procedure and Review of Current Literature.
abstract: Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is encountered occasionally during angiographic procedures. It usually coexists with right superior vena cava and drains to the right atrium through the coronary sinus, but multiple variations are described. Although PLSVC is extensively reported in the literature, there are very few articles addressing right heart catheterization in patients with isolated PLSVC. We present a patient with absent right superior vena cava and PLSVC draining to a dilated coronary sinus diagnosed during right heart catheterization in the setting of pulmonary hypertension. We were able to safely complete the procedure through the right internal jugular vein. Transthoracic echocardiography and chest CT scan were consistent with this finding. Although clinically silent most of the time, undiagnosed PLSVC can lead to catastrophic consequences when the patient undergoes invasive procedures. If PLSVC is suspected, the anatomy of the thoracic venous system must be identified before invasive cardiac procedures.
authors: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Cardiology, 982265 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-2265, United States.
authors: Abdel Rahman Al
authors: ARA
authors: Emam
authors: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University/Christiana Care Health System, Cardiology department, Heart and Vascular Institute, Delaware, Newark, United States.
authors: Ahmed Sami
authors: AS
authors: Abuzaid
authors: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Cardiology, United States.
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Chamsi-Pasha
authors: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Cardiology, United States.
authors: Nattapong
authors: N
authors: Sricharoen
keywords: Superior vena cava; assessment; cardiac catheterization; patient outcomes.