Superior vena caval abnormalities: their occurrence rate, associated cardiac abnormalities and angiographic classification in a paediatric population with congenital heart disease

Abstract

Angiography of the superior systemic veins was performed on 510 patients with congenital heart disease. An analysis of these angiograms was carried out and a simple angiographic classification of superior vena caval anomalies is presented. Eleven per cent of cases had complete bilateral superior vena cavae, a frequency of occurrence higher than that previously reported. An analysis of associated congenital heart lesions revealed a higher than average association of bilateral superior vena cavae with atrioventricular septal defects and double-outlet right ventricle, but this was seen rarely in cases of transposition of the great arteries. Bilateral superior vena cavae also occurred very frequently (72%) in patients with situs abnormalities. Femoral vein catheterisation is likely to facilitate diagnosis and appropriate radiological signs are discussed.