Korean J Nephrol.  1998 May;17(3):521-525.

Unusual Location of the Hemodialysis Catheter in Persistent left Superior Vena Cava in a Patient with Chronic Renal Failure

• Kim YO
• Jeon HK
• Han CM
• Park TW
• Kim GY
• Yoon SA
• Kim NI
• Song HH
• Park SH
• Bang BK

Abstract

A persistent left superior vena cava(SVC) is found in about 0.3% of healthy individuals and 4.3% of patients with congenital heart disease. This anomaly is most frequently found in conjunction with a right-sided SVC, but may also be solitary. Recently, we experienced a case of persistent left SVC in patient with chronic renal failure. He required subclavian catheterization for hemodialysis due to leakage of peritoneal dialysate into external genitalia and pleural cavity. Because he had had a history of right subclavian catheterization for hemodialysis 3 months ago, the hemodialysis catheter was inserted in the left subclavian vein without any complication. Chest X-ray after insertion of the catheter showed that the distal tip of the catheter seemed to be within the aorta. Venography showed that the catheter was located within the left SVC and MRI showed isolated two SVC. He is receiving hemodialysis through the left subclavian catheter which is positioned within the left SVC without any problem.

Keyword

Hemodialysis; Subclavian vein catheterization; Persistent left superior vena cava

MeSH Terms

Aorta
Catheterization
Catheters*
Genitalia
Heart Defects, Congenital
Humans
Kidney Failure, Chronic*
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Phlebography
Pleural Cavity
Renal Dialysis*
Subclavian Vein
Thorax
Vena Cava, Superior*