Electrophysiology Study and Catheter Ablation With Superior Vena Cava Stump

J INVASIVE CARDIOL 2017;29(11):E166.

Key words: SVC stump, congenital coronary anatomy, cardiac imaging

A 39-year-old female patient had a 3-year history of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and transient ischemic attack, for which she was anticoagulated with dabigatran etexilate (Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals). During an initial diagnostic electrophysiology study, despite multiple attempts, a wire would not advance into the right atrium via the left axillary vein approach. This was abandoned and femoral venous access was used to obtain access to the right ventricle and coronary sinus. She then underwent an uneventful atrial flutter ablation. 

At the time of staged pulmonary vein isolation, contrast was injected to confirm the presence of a blind pouch at the right atrial roof, suggesting the absence of a patent superior vena cava (SVC) (Figure 1A). Transseptal puncture was then performed with both transesophageal echocardiographic and fluoroscopic guidance. Cardiac computed tomography scan confirmed the absence of the SVC. A dilated azygous vein and a prominent collateral vein were demonstrated to divert venous return from the terminus of the left brachiocephalic vein to the inferior vena cava and right atrium, respectively (Figures 1B and 1C). 

Absent right SVC is usually accompanied by a persistent left SVC.¹ We report the complete absence of an SVC in a patient without prior history of cardiac surgery or device implantation. This is a very rare congenital cardiac abnormality, which if unrecognized, may lead to complications in patients undergoing electrophysiological studies.^2,3

References

1.    Sheikh AS, Mazhar S. Persistent left superior vena cava with absent right superior vena cava: review of the literature and clinical implications. Echocardiography. 2014;31:674-679.

2.    Bansal M, Strainic J, Ashwath R. Bilateral absence of superior vena cava. Pediatr Cardiol. 2013;34:1031-1033.

3.    Hussain SA, Chakravarty S, Chaikhouni A, Smith JR. Congenital absence of superior vena cava: unusual anomaly of superior systemic veins complicating pacemaker placement. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1981;4:328-334.

From ¹the Division of Cardiology, Rouge Valley Health System; and ²Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.

Disclosure: The authors have completed and returned the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. The authors report no conflicts of interest regarding the content herein.

Manuscript accepted May 5, 2017.

Address for correspondence: Bobby Yanagawa, MD, PhD, FRCSC, Division of Cardiac Surgery, St. Michael’s Hospital, 30 Bond Street, 8th Floor, Bond Wing, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1W8 Canada. Email: yanagawab@smh.ca