Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1997; 45(1): 40-42
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1013683
Case Report

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Bilateral Inferior Vena Cava With Azygos Continuation but Without Congenital Heart Disease Complicates Routine Venous Cannulation for Cardiopulmonary Bypass in an Adult

U. Wolfhard, F. H. Splittgerber, P. Gocke1 , J. Chr. Reidemeister
  • Department of Thoracic- and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Essen School of Medicine, Essen, Germany
  • 1Department of Radiology, University of Essen School of Medicine, Essen, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

1996

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

Abstract

Attempted venous cannulation with a dual-stage cannula for cardiopulmonary bypass in routine coronary revascularization led to the discoveryof an abnormal inferior vena cava in a 65-year-old patient. The operative and postoperative course of the patient were not affected by the inferior caval anomaly. The detailed infradiaphragmatic venous anatomy was elucidated later by MRI and showed bilateral inferior caval veins with azygos continuation. Although this malformation of the inferior cava is rare in adults, the occurrence should be known. Quick recognition and handling should be achieved if detected during cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass.

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