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Cardiology in the Young

Table of Contents - 2002 - Volume 12, Issue 02  


Original Article

Anomalous subaortic course of the left brachiocephalic (innominate) vein: echocardiographic diagnosis and report of an unusual association

Samira Morhy Borges Leal a1c1, Jose L. Andrade a1, Mirna de Souza a1, Andressa Mussi Soares a1, Glaucia M. Penha Tavares a1, Jorge Yussef Afiune a1, Vitor Coimbra Guerra a1, Lea M. Ferreira Demarchi a1 and Wilson Mathias Jr. a1
a1 Heart Institute, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Article author query
leal sm   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
andrade jl   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
de souza m   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
soares am   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
tavares gm   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
afiune jy   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
guerra vc   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
demarchi lm   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 
mathias w   [PubMed][Google Scholar] 

Abstract

Subaortic left brachiocephalic, or innominate, vein is an uncommon finding in congenital heart disease, usually associated with obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract. We describe our experience with 14 patients in whom the lesion was identified echocardiographically, 12 of them with right ventricular obstruction, one with totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection in the absence of obstruction to the right ventricular outflow tract, and the final one with a normal heart. A precise diagnosis of this venous anomaly is of great importance, since it needs to be differentiated from a central pulmonary artery, a pulmonary venous confluence, or an ascending vertical vein in totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection. In patients referred for surgery without catheterization, an incorrect echocardiographic diagnosis could lead to disastrous surgical results.

(Published Online August 15 2006)
(Accepted November 16 2001)


Key Words: Anomalous left brachiocephalic vein; echocardiography; total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

Correspondence:
c1 Correspondence to: Samira Morhy Borges Leal, Heart Institute, University of São Paulo, Av. Dr Eneas de Carvalho Aguiar, 44 Zip Code 05403-000, São Paulo SP, Brazil. Tel: +55 11 3069 5274; Fax: +55 11 3069 5293; E-mail: eco_samira@incor.usp.br

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