Patent Levoatrial Cardinal Vein Without Left Heart Hypoplasia

Levoatrial cardinal vein with normal left ventricle: A forgotten cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension

“…[ 1 2 ] Embryologically, LACV constitutes a persistent connection between pulmonary and cardinal venous system particularly in obstructive left heart lesions to facilitate drainage of left atrium to right side. [ 5 ] In cases of left ventricular outflow obstruction, LACV acts as a “pop off valve” and allows pulmonary venous drainage into the systemic venous system without raising the left atrial pressure.…”

“…[ 3 ] LACV is abnormal persistence of the splanchnic vein connecting the pulmonary venous plexus and the cardinal system. [ 4 5 ] Blood flow in LACV is from left atrium/pulmonary veins to right side of the heart amounting to left to right shunt. This connection may persist to provide alternative drainage of pulmonary venous blood in conditions where left heart is malformed.…”

Multidetector computed tomography findings of an asymptomatic levoatrial cardinal vein with an interatrial course

“…Kaneda et al [7] reported an adult case with no congenital or acquired heart disease other than LCV. However, that case was repaired by the open surgery due to being symptomatic and due to increased shunt fraction 3 years after the diagnosis.…”

“…However, neither transthoracic nor transoesophageal echocardiography can easily define these veins as they are extracardiac. Hence, cases diagnosed as having LCV were not diagnosed by echocardiography [1,7]. Other technique for diagnosis is selective cardiac angiography, however, this method is costly and invasive.…”

“…Even with this technique the origin of the abnormal vein may not be localised accurately [1]. Experts recommend using MDCT for diagnosis because of challenges experienced in detection of this vein [4,7].…”