title: Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Device Implantation: Clinical and Long-Term Data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Persistent left superior vena cava (LSVC) is a rare congenital venous anomaly that may be found at the time of cardiac device lead insertion.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case series, we present clinical and long-term data of five patients with LSVC who underwent pacemaker (PM) or cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation during the period of 10 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Left-sided venous approach was used for device implantation in 3 patients with standard PM indications, whereas a right-sided venous approach and an epicardial approach had to be used in 2 patients who needed an ICD and biventricular PM, respectively. In post implantation period of 44 ± 29 months, one patient died due to stroke, one underwent heart transplantation, and 3 had atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The long-term outcome of patients with persistent LSVC and implanted cardiac devices is mostly influenced by the presence of underlying heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Dubravko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Petrac
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Vjekoslav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Radeljic
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pavlovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Sime
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manola
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sestre Milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delic-Brkljacic
keywords: Cardiac device implantation; Long-term outcome; Persistent left superior vena cava