- Asploro Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Case Reports
- ISSN: 2582-0370
- Article Type: Video Article
- DOI: 10.36502/2020/ASJBCCR.6197
- Asp Biomed Clin Case Rep. 2020 May 12;3(2):116-17
Dilated Coronary Sinus: An Indicator of Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava
Otero D1, Stoddard M1, Ikram S1*
1Cardiovascular Medicine Department, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
Corresponding Author: Sohail Ikram MD, FACC
Address: 201 Abraham Flexner Way, Suite 600, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
Received date: 24 April 2020; Accepted date: 02 May 2020; Published date: 12 May 2020
Citation: Otero D, Stoddard M, Ikram S. Dilated Coronary Sinus: An Indicator of Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava. Asp Biomed Clin Case Rep. 2020 May 12;3(2):116-17.
Copyright © 2020 Otero D, Stoddard M, Ikram S. This is an open-access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium provided the original work is properly cited.
Keywords: Congenital Anomaly, Venous Anomaly, Transthoracic Echocardiogram
Abstract
An 88-year-old male presented for a routine transthoracic echocardiogram. Dilated coronary sinus was noted, raising the suspicion for persistent left superior venous cava (PLSVC). An agitated saline study from the left upper extremity demonstrated a flow through the coronary sinus into the right ventricle in a parasternal long-axis view. A venogram from the right internal jugular vein showed the PLSVC drained into a much dilated coronary sinus (CS) that connected to the right atrium. The right superior vena cava was absent. PLSVC along with absent right superior vena cava is rare and the inadvertent CS cannulation may result in vessel perforation.
Case
An 88-year-old male with aortic stenosis status post bioprosthetic valve replacement presented for routine transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to evaluate shortness of breath. Severe mitral regurgitation with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 55% and severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) with pulmonary systolic pressure of 60 mmHg, were identified. The aortic prosthetic valve was well seated and with normal gradients. A dilated coronary sinus was noted during examination raising the suspicion of a persistent left superior venous cava (PLSVC), (Fig-1, Video-1) so an agitated saline study was carried out. An intravenous catheter was placed in the left antecubital vein and agitated saline was injected, demonstrating flow through the coronary sinus into the right ventricle, in parasternal long- axis view (Fig-2, Video-2). A right heart catheterization was arranged to evaluate his pulmonary hypertension, revealing Group II PH. During the procedure, a Swan-Ganz catheter was noted to cross the mid-parasternal line. A venogram from the right internal jugular vein showed the PLSVC from merger of the right and left brachiocephalic vein. The PLSVC drained into a much dilated coronary sinus (CS) that connected to the right atrium (Fig-3, Video-3). The right superior vena cava (SVC) was absent.
Fig-1
Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiogram with a parasternal long view showing dilated coronary sinus, raising the suspicion for persistent left superior vena cava.
LV: Left Ventricle; LA: Left Artium; CS: Coronary Sinus; RV: Right Ventricle; AO: Aorta
Video-1
Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiogram with a parasternal long view showing dilated coronary sinus, raising the suspicion for persistent left superior vena cava.
Fig-2
Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiogram with a parasternal long view showing an injection of saline contrast through an IV catheter in the left upper extremity demonstrates saline contrast entering sinus prior to the right ventricle, confirming persistent left superior vena cava.
LV: Left Ventricle; LA: Left Artium; CS: Coronary Sinus; RV: Right Ventricle; AO: Aorta
Video-2
Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiogram with a parasternal long view showing an injection of saline contrast through an IV catheter in the left upper extremity demonstrates saline contrast entering sinus prior to the right ventricle, confirming persistent left superior vena cava.
Fig-3
Venogram with injection from right internal jugular vein confirms persistent left superior vena cava and absent right superior vena cava. The right brachiocephalic vein drains into the left SVC and a very dilated coronary sinus.
RBCV: Right Brachiocephalic Vein; LBCV: Left Brachiocephalic Vein; PLSVC: Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava; CS: Coronary Sinus
Video-3
Venogram with injection from right internal jugular vein confirms persistent left superior vena cava and absent right superior vena cava. The right brachiocephalic vein drains into the left SVC and a very dilated coronary sinus.
Financial Support
None
Author Contribution
Diana Otero: Concept and drafting;
Marcus Stoddard: Critical revision and approval or article;
Ikram Sohail: Critical revision and approval or article.
Conflict of Interest
All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
References
[1] Patel Y, Gupta R. Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava with Absent Right Superior Vena Cava. Methodist Debakey Cardiovasc J. 2018 Jul-Sep;14(3):232-35. [PMID: 30410655]