Objective: This study was planned to investigate the incidence of persistent left superior vena cava of all congenital heart defects and common congenital heart anomalies coexisting with persistent left superior vena cava.
Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of 1205 patients. Cardiac catheterization and angiography were performed from the left femoral vein percutaneously. In order to determine persistent left superior vena cava existance all the subjects underwent routine superior vena cava injection during angiography.
Results: 55% of patients (664) were male and 45% (541) were female. Mean age of the patients was 52.69 ± 50.67 months. Persistent left superior vena cava was determined in 6% (74) of patients. Ventricular septal defect (n=470, 39%) and atrial septal defect (n=312, 26%) were the most frequently encountered cardiac anomalies during angiography. Connection between two superior vena cava was detected in 1.7% (n=20). In our study, the type and frequency of encountered congenital heart defects coexisting with persistent left superior vena cava were VSD 57% (n=42), ASD 42% (n=31), pulmonary stenosis 26% (n=19), atrioventricular septal defect 14% (n=10), PDA 8% (n=6), cortriatriatum dextrum 4% (n=3) respectively. These associations were found statistically significant (p<0,05).
Conclusion: The prevalance of persistent left superior vena cava is between 0.5-2% in general population. Although transthoracic ecocardiography diagnoses persistent left superior vena cava with a high accuracy, in order to prevent incidental diagnosis of persistent left superior vena cava and mortality during cardiovascular surgery, patients should undergo routine superior vena cava injection during angiography.