Contrast echocardiography was used before cardiac catheterisation in 37 patients with atrial septal defect and a left-to-right shunt and in 18 patients with a raised right atrial and ventricular pressure to assess the contrast echo effect in the inferior vena cava. Using two dimensional contrast apical echocardiography we found a negative contrast echo effect within the right atrium in many but...

1. Minniti S, Vincentini S, Procacci C. Congenital anomalies of the venae cavae: embryological origin, imaging features and report of three new variants. Eur Radiol 2002; 12: 2040–2055. 2. Nsah EN, Moore GW, Hutchins GM. Pathogenesis of persistent left superior vena cava with a coronary sinus connection. Pediatr Pathol 1991; 11: 261–269. 3. Pasquini L, Belmar C, Seale A, Gardiner HM. Prenatal d...

Filling defects are often observed on 99mTc sulfur colloid liver scans. Hot spots are much less frequently seen. Superior vena cava syndrome is the most frequent cause of this finding. In this report 3 patients with S.V.C and budd - Chiari syndrome with HOT SPOT on liver scan are presented. Mechanisms of scintigraphic patterns are reviewed.

Congenital   aortocaval   fistula in association with complex congenital heart disease has never been described before. We represent an adult with tetralogy of fallot and an undiagnosed subclavian artery to superior vena cava fistula in previous catheterisms. He underwent surgical correction, successfully. After 8 months post operation he was doing well with improved functional capacity and no ...

A case of superior vena cava syndrome caused by a primary intimal sarcoma of the superior vena cava is described. The known causes of superior vena caval obstruction are discussed, together with the difficulties in identifying the underlying lesion. The possibility of a primary superior vena caval neoplasm as a cause of superior vena caval obstruction should be considered in patients presenting...

Hunter' was the first to report a case of superior vena cava obstruction. Ehlrich2 et al. and McIntire and Sykes3 have extensively reviewed the world literature. Obstruction of the superior vena cava due to primary endothoracic malignant tumours or aneurysm is not uncommon, accounting for 94 per cent. of our cases, but benign lesions causing obstruction of this vessel are rare Oschner and Dixon...

BACKGROUND The determination of the adequate depth of superior vena cava cannulae during minimally invasive cardiac surgery is important for warranting venous drainage and preventing complications during cardiopulmonary bypass. We investigated whether preoperative cardiac computed tomography might be useful for predicting the optimal depth of superior vena cava cannulae. METHODS The patients ...

UNLABELLED The aim of the study was to compare the values of the sonographic inferior vena cava/ aorta index obtained with the transducer placed in the median line and right anterior axillary line. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study enrolled 45 volunteers, including 33 women, aged 22.5 ± 1.26 with a negative history of circulatory and renal diseases. The study consisted in a sonographic assessmen...

We report a 29 year-old woman with bilateral deep vein thrombosis. CT-scan was performed and an agenesia of the inferior vena cava was found. We provide a brief review of the embryogenesis of the inferior vena cava, and of anomalies in the genesis of this vessel. In young patients with idiopathic deep venous thrombosis the existence of an abnormality in the inferior vena cava should be considered.

Retrieval of a Gunther tulip vena cava filter implanted in a patient with inferior vena cava and right common iliac vein thrombosis was attempted by the standard method. Because the filter was tilted, the hook became attached to the vena cava wall and could not be snared. During attempts at removal by an alternative method, the filter migrated toward the right atrium. However, it was finally su...