Isolated Right Superior Vena Cava Draining into the Left Atrium

Abstract A 10‐year‐old male was admitted to our institution with complaints of mild cyanosis and dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiography and angiography revealed a right superior vena cava (SVC) draining into the left atrium. At the time of surgery, the right SVC was connected to the right atrium. (J Card Surg 2012;27:623‐625)     

Correction of Left Superior Vena Cava Draining to the Left Atrium Using Extracardiac Techniques

Intraatrial rerouting techniques have been the most common approaches to correcting left superior vena caval drainage to the left atrium in patients without atrial isomerism and with no connecting vein. Although these techniques have proved reliable and successful, there are cases in which extracardiac methods for managing this form of anomalous systemic drainage may be preferable. In the present report, we describe three extracardiac approaches to the correction of left superior vena cava draining to the left atrium.     

Unexpected Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava and Absent Right Superior Vena Cava in Situs Solitus Patient

Abstract   We, herein, report a patient with persistent left superior vena cava with enlarged coronary sinus and absent right superior vena cava. This anomaly, diagnosed intraoperatively during the third open-heart surgery in the course of transesophageal echocardiography examination, was not mentioned during the patient's previous two cardiac operations. Challenges in intraoperative management and implications for subsequent treatments are discussed. (J Card Surg 2010;25:42-45)     

上腔静脉综合征的外科治疗

目的报告５例上腔静脉综合征外科治疗经验及体会。方法２例行颈内静脉－大隐静脉转流术，３例行颈外静脉－大隐静脉转流术。结果无术后并发症及手术死亡。术后近期疗效满意５例，远期疗效满意２例。结论外科手术治疗上腔静脉综合征能明显改善患者的预后；但由于上腔静脉综合征病因、梗阻部位和范围不同，手术方法应有所选择。     

小儿左上腔静脉回流异常的外科治疗

目的评价左上腔静脉(LSVC)回流异常的外科治疗价值。方法1999年4月~2004年12月我院共收治先天性心脏病伴LSVC回流终点异常患者19例,年龄2.7个月~6.5岁,体重3.1~15.0kg。合并复杂先天性心脏病9例、继发孔型房间隔缺损4例、部分性肺静脉异位引流(PAPVD)伴房间隔缺损(A SD)2例、法洛四联症(TOF)3例,右心室双流出口(DORV)1例。对LSVC的处理方法采用房间隔重建、LSVC移位合并心房间隔重建、LSVC连接到右心房、腔静脉-肺动脉吻合、部分性无顶冠状窦(中间位)的修补。结果全组死亡1例,系LSVC合并DORV和肺动脉高压,主要表现为术后肺动脉高压危象,左侧腔静脉-肺动脉吻合的血流梗阻,严重低心排血量、低氧血症致肾功能不全死亡。术后右心房压9~18 mmHg。出院时行双心室修补术者术后脉搏血氧饱和度(SpO2)0.98~1.00,行单心室修补或分期手术者术后SpO20.79~0.88。出院前所有患者经彩色多普勒超声心动图检查显示LSVC回流和肺静脉回流均通畅。随访3个月~2年,所有患者活动量增加、心功能改善。结论对LSVC回流终点异常须根据不同的合并畸形采用不同的处理方法,尤其对合并肺动脉高压患者避免使用腔静脉-肺动脉吻合的方法。     

Surgical Treatment of Complex Malignant Anterior Mediastinal Tumors Invading the Superior Vena Cava

Determining the appropriate surgery-based treatment for complicated anterior mediastinal malignancies (CAMM), especially those invading the superior vena cava (SVC) and its branches, remains a challenge for general thoracic surgeons. In this report, we summarize our experience and lessons regarding this issue in order to discuss a reasonable strategy for diagnosis and treatment of CAMM. Between January 2001 and April 2003, 15 patients with CAMM invading the SVC and/or its branches with or without invasion of other neighboring organs were surgically treated in our institution by a single surgeon team. We collected clinical data from the medical charts and from surgeons’ specific notes for complicated cases, and performed a comprehensive analysis. There were 9 patients with malignant thymoma. Thymic carcinoma, teratoma, embryonal carcinoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and mixed teratoma with thymoma were diagnosed in 1 patient each. All procedures were performed via median sternotomy. Some angioplasty techniques were successfully used to resect and reconstruct the SVC. Ten of the 15 patients also underwent pulmonary resection due to involvement of pulmonary parenchyma. Four of the patients underwent perioperative chemotherapy. There were no perioperative deaths. Two patients suffered prolonged ventilation after surgery, and there were no other severe complications related to surgery. One patient died 10 months after surgery. The remaining 14 patients were still living and their progress is still monitored. As of August 2004, the median follow-up duration for all patients was 35 months, and the disease-free survival duration was 10–43 months. CAMM can be safely and completely resected via a median sternotomy, even if it has invaded other mediastinal structures. CAMM should be pathologically identified before initial treatment. A good outcome for patients with CAMM is possible if a suitable strategy combining accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, especially surgical resection, is established. Ke-Neng Chen and Shao-Fa Xu contributed equally to this work.