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Right superior vena cava draining into the left atrium: prenatal diagnosis and postnatal management
Author(s) -
Vassallo M.,
Pascotto M.,
Pisacane C.,
Santoro G.,
Paladini D.,
Russo M. G.,
Calabrò R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1002/uog.2758
Subject(s) - medicine , persistent left superior vena cava , right to left shunt , shunt (medical) , cardiology , right atrium , left atrium , fetus , fetal echocardiography , venous return curve , inferior vena cava , superior vena cava , prenatal diagnosis , pregnancy , hemodynamics , patent foramen ovale , coronary sinus , migraine , biology , genetics , atrial fibrillation
Right superior vena cava (RSVC) draining into the left atrium, causing hypoxemia, represents a very rare congenital malformation which has not previously been described in the fetus. We describe a case in which fetal echocardiography at 22 weeks' gestation revealed an enlarged superior vena cava connecting abnormally with a mildly enlarged left atrium. Neonatal transthoracic echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis and showed an abnormal connection of the right pulmonary veins to the RSVC. Right‐to‐left shunt due to anomalous drainage of the RSVC into the left atrium associated with an atrial septal defect and anomalous pulmonary venous return were diagnosed on echocardiography and confirmed by angiography. The newborn was hemodynamically stable at birth and at the 1‐year follow‐up. Copyright © 2006 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.