Skip to main content
British Heart Journal logoLink to British Heart Journal
. 1980 Dec;44(6):718–723. doi: 10.1136/hrt.44.6.718

Use of contrast echocardiography in diagnosis of anomalous connection of right superior vena cava to left atrium.

A T Truman, P S Rao, R J Kulangara
PMCID: PMC482473  PMID: 7459157

Abstract

A 4-month-old infant with cyanosis but without other abnormal cardiac findings is presented in whom the diagnosis of anomalous systemic venous connection to the left atrium was made by contrast echocardiography. The diagnosis was later confirmed by cardiac catheterisation and selective cineangiography. When saline was injected into a vein on the dorsum of each hand while echocardiographically recording the cardiac structures, the left atrium, left ventricle, and aorta were opacified without visualisation of the right ventricle. Similar study with injection into the right foot produced opacification of the right ventricle without visualisation of the left-sided structures. These data suggested normal drainage of the inferior vena cava with anomalous connection of the superior vena cava to the left atrium. A review of the previously reported cases of anomalous connection of the right superior vena cava to the left atrium is presented together with the possible embryological origin of this anomaly.

Full text

PDF
718

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BROWN J. F., CRUMPTON C. W., HUSTON J. H., ROWE G. G., TUCHMAN H., WEINSTEIN A. B. Superior vena cava draining into left atrium; another cause for left ventricular hypertrophy with cyanotic congenital heart disease. Am J Med. 1956 Sep;21(3):481–484. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(56)90047-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Braudo M., Beanlands D. S., Trusler G. Anomalous drainage of the right superior vena cava into the left atrium. Can Med Assoc J. 1968 Oct 12;99(14):715–719. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. DAVIS W. H., JORDAAN F. R., SNYMAN H. W. Persistent left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium, as an isolated anomaly. Am Heart J. 1959 Apr;57(4):616–622. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(59)90036-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. FRASER R. S., DVORKIN J., ROSSALL R. E., EIDEM R. Left superior vena cava: a review of associated congenital heart lesions, catheterization data and roentgenologic findings. Am J Med. 1961 Nov;31:711–716. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(61)90155-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. FRIEDLICH A., BING R. J., BLOUNT S. G., Jr Physiological studies in congenital heart disease; circulatory dynamics in the anomalies of venous return to the heart including pulmonary arteriovenous fistula. Bull Johns Hopkins Hosp. 1950 Jan;86(1):20–57. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Feigenbaum H., Stone J. M., Lee D. A., Nasser W. K., Chang S. Identification of ultrasound echoes from the left ventricle by use of intracardiac injections of indocyanine green. Circulation. 1970 Apr;41(4):615–621. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.41.4.615. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. GARDNER D. L., COLE L. Long survival with inferior vena cava draining into left atrium. Br Heart J. 1955 Jan;17(1):93–97. doi: 10.1136/hrt.17.1.93. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Gautam H. P. Left atrial inferior vena cava with atrial septal defect. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1968 Jun;55(6):827–829. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Gramiak R., Shah P. M. Echocardiography of the aortic root. Invest Radiol. 1968 Sep-Oct;3(5):356–366. doi: 10.1097/00004424-196809000-00011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Gramiak R., Shah P. M., Kramer D. H. Ultrasound cardiography: contrast studies in anatomy and function. Radiology. 1969 Apr;92(5):939–948. doi: 10.1148/92.5.939. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. KIRSCH W. M., CARLSSON E., HARTMANN A. F., Jr A case of anomalous drainage of the superior vena cava into the left atrium. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1961 Apr;41:550–556. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Kerber R. E., Kioschos J. M., Lauer R. M. Use of an ultrasonic contrast method in the diagnosis of valvular regurgitation and intracardiac shunts. Am J Cardiol. 1974 Nov;34(6):722–727. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(74)90163-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Kim Y. S., Serratto M., Long D. M., Hastreiter A. R. Left atrial inferior vena cava with atrial septal defect. Ann Thorac Surg. 1971 Feb;11(2):165–170. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(10)65433-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. MEADOWS W. R., BERGSTRAND I., SHARP J. T. Isolated anomalous connection of a great vein to the left atrium. The syndrome of cyanosis and clubbing, "normal" heart, and left ventricular hypertrophy on electrocardiogram. Circulation. 1961 Sep;24:669–676. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.24.3.669. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. MEADOWS W. R., SHARP J. T. PERSISTENT LEFT SUPERIOR VENA CAVA DRAINING INTO THE LEFT ATRIUM WITHOUT ARTERIAL OXYGEN UNSATURATION. Am J Cardiol. 1965 Aug;16:273–279. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(65)90484-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. ODMAN P. A persistent left superior vena cava communicating with the left atrium and pulmonary vein. Acta radiol. 1953 Dec;40(6):554–560. doi: 10.3109/00016925309177064. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Park H. M., Smith E. T., Silberstein E. B. Isolated right superior vena cava draining into left atrium diagnosed by radionuclide angiocardiography. J Nucl Med. 1973 Apr;14(4):240–242. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. RAGHIB G., RUTTENBERG H. D., ANDERSON R. C., AMPLATZ K., ADAMS P., Jr, EDWARDS J. E. TERMINATION OF LEFT SUPERIOR VENA CAVA IN LEFT ATRIUM, ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT, AND ABSENCE OF CORONARY SINUS; A DEVELOPMENTAL COMPLEX. Circulation. 1965 Jun;31:906–918. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.31.6.906. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Rao P. S., Molthan M. E. Systemic venous anomalies and partial heterotaxia with normal heart. Am J Dis Child. 1973 May;125(5):749–752. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1973.04160050089019. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Rees A. H., Rao P. S., Rigby J. J., Miller M. D. Echocardiographic estimation of a left-to-right shunt in isolated ventricular septal defects. Eur J Cardiol. 1978 Mar;7(1):25–33. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Serwer G. A., Armstrong B. E., Anderson P. A., Sherman D., Benson D. W., Edwards S. B. Use of contrast echocardiography for evaluation of right ventricular hemodynamics in the presence of ventricular septal defects. Circulation. 1978 Aug;58(2):327–336. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.58.2.327. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Seward J. B., Tajik A. J., Hagler D. J., Ritter D. G. Contrast echocardiography in single or common ventricle. Circulation. 1977 Mar;55(3):513–519. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.55.3.513. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Seward J. B., Tajik A. J., Hagler D. J., Ritter D. G. Peripheral venous contrast echocardiography. Am J Cardiol. 1977 Feb;39(2):202–212. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9149(77)80192-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Seward J. B., Tajik A. J., Spangler J. G., Ritter D. G. Echocardiographic contrast studies: initial experience. Mayo Clin Proc. 1975 Apr;50(4):163–192. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Sherafat M., Friedman S., Waldhausen J. A. Persistent left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium with absent right superior vena cava. Ann Thorac Surg. 1971 Feb;11(2):160–164. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(10)65432-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. TAYBI H., KURLANDER G. J., LURIE P. R., CAMPBELL J. A. ANOMALOUS SYSTEMIC VENOUS CONNECTION TO THE LEFT ATRIUM OR TO A PULMONARY VEIN. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med. 1965 May;94:62–77. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Valdes-Cruz L. M., Pieroni D. R., Roland J. M., Shematek J. P. Recognition of residual postoperative shunts by contrast echocardiographic techniques. Circulation. 1977 Jan;55(1):148–152. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.55.1.148. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Valdes-Cruz L. M., Pieroni D. R., Roland J. M., Varghese P. J. Echocardiographic detection of intracardiac right-to-left shunts following peripheral vein injections. Circulation. 1976 Oct;54(4):558–562. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.54.4.558. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Viart P., Le Clerc J. L., Primo G., Polis O. Total anomalous systemic venous drainage. Am J Dis Child. 1977 Feb;131(2):195–198. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1977.02120150077016. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. WINTER F. S. Persistent left superior vena cava; survey of world literature and report of thirty additional cases. Angiology. 1954 Apr;5(2):90–132. doi: 10.1177/000331975400500207. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Heart Journal are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES