"Abnormalities of the vena cava system are usually asymptomatic and are found incidentally during pacemaker implantation or catherization," scientists writing in the journal Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon report (see also Cardiomyopathy).

"We report a case of dilative cardiomyopathy requiring cardiac resynchronization defibrillator therapy (CRT-D). During the operation, a persistent left Superior vena cava with an absent right vena cava was discovered," wrote A. Kortner and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "During open chest surgery, we implanted a CRT-D with epicardial patches and pacing leads, which is a simple technique for safe and reliable biventricular defibrillator therapy in these patients.."

Kortner and colleagues published their study in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Patients with Absent Right but Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava. Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon, 2009;57(4):232-233).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting A. Kortner, University of Hospital Regensburg, Dept. of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Franz Josef Strauss Allee 11, D-93042 Regensburg, Germany.

The publisher of the journal Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon can be contacted at: Georg Thieme Verlag kg, Rudigerstr 14, D-70469 Stuttgart, Germany.

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