Double superior vena cava and variation in pulmonary venous drainage – case report

Abstract

During routine dissection for undergraduate students, two venous end cardiac anomalies were noted. In a male cadaver, in addition to a normal right sided superior vena cava, a persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) was seen opening into the right atrium via coronary sinus. Left brachiocephalic vein was of a small caliber. In addition, left atrium showed only two pulmonary ostia. No other cardiac anomalies were found. Both these anomalies rarely cause any haemo-dynamic compromise and hence may remain asymptomatic throughout life. They are usually found as a chance finding during imaging studies or in post mortem studies as was seen in this case. However, both are known to be associated with cardiac arrhythmias. Their concomitant occurrence suggests a common timing of their development and / or a common causative agent that halted their development. Knowledge of these anomalies is invaluable for the cardiac surgeons and interventionists.

Keywords

• superior vena cava
• persistent left superior vena cava
• pulmonary ostia