DOI: 10.12890/2023_004122

Flash pulmonary oedema secondary to persistent left superior vena cava

Authors

  • Jack Demirjian Department of Internal Medicine, Del Sol Medical Center, El Paso, United States
  • Rohan Divecha Department of Internal Medicine, Del Sol Medical Center, El Paso, United States
  • Emmanuel Garrastegui Mercado Department of Internal Medicine, Del Sol Medical Center, El Paso, United States
  • Oscar Garcia Department of Internal Medicine, Del Sol Medical Center, El Paso, United States

jack.demirjian@hcahealthcare.com

Keywords

Internal medicine, gastroenterology, cardiology, critical care, Persistent left superior vena cava, PLSVC

Abstract

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a common congenital anomaly of the thoracic venous system. It is usually asymptomatic and is detected when cardiovascular imaging is performed for unrelated reasons. Its presence can complicate catheter placement within the right side of the heart, as well as cardiac procedures. In most cases PLSVC can go unnoticed and only becomes pertinent when patients require cardiac imaging or surgery. Once found, it puts patients at risk for cardiac interventions. Here we present a case that highlights the practical implications of PLSVC where a patient developed flash pulmonary oedema after gastrointestinal procedures – in this case, laparoscopic cholecystectomy – as well as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Management is also discussed, leading to the resolution of symptoms. The report will also propose a pathophysiologic mechanism leading to this complication that is not well understood in the medical literature.

View the entire article

Downloads

References

  1. Tyrak KW, Holda J, Holda, MK, Koziel M, Piatek K, Klimek-Piotrowska W. Persistent left superior vena cava. Cardiovasc J Afr 2017;28:e1–e4.
  2. Boyer R, Sidhu R, Ghandforoush A, Win T, Heidari A. Persistent left superior vena cava: implications of surgical management. J Investig Med High Impact Case Rep 2019;7:2324709619855754
  3. Kurtoglu E, Cakin O, Akcay S, Akturk E, Korkmaz H. Persistent left superior vena cava draining into the coronary sinus: a case report. Cardiol Res 2011;2:249–252.
  4. Azizova A, Onder O, Arslan S, Ardali S, Hazirolan T. Persistent left superior vena cava: clinical importance and differential diagnoses. Insights imaging 2020;11:110.
  5. Gropper MA, Wiener-Kronish JP, Hashimoto S. Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Clin Chest Med 1994;15:501–515.
  6. Bello G, De Santis P, Antonelli M. Non-invasive ventilation in cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Ann Transl Med 2018;6:355.
  7. Sharp JM, Griffith GT, Bunnell IL, Greene DL. Ventilatory mechanics in pulmonary edema in man. J Clin Invest 1M58;37:111–117.
  8. Rimoldi SF, Yuzefpolskaya M, Allemann Y, Messerli, F. Flash pulmonary edema. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2009;52:249–259.
  9. Radunovic M, Lazovic R, Popovic N, Magdelinic M, Bulajic M, Radunovic L, et al. Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy: our experience from a retrospective analysis. Open access Maced J Med Sci 2006;4:641–646.
  10. Sadhu, S, Sarkar S, Jahangir TA, Verma R, Shaikh F, Dubey SK, et al. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with cardiac dysfunction. Indian J Surg 2011;73:90–95.

Published

2023-10-30

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 12 (2023)

How to Cite

1.
Demirjian J, Divecha R, Garrastegui Mercado E, Garcia O. Flash pulmonary oedema secondary to persistent left superior vena cava. EJCRIM [Internet]. 2023 Oct. 30 [cited 2026 Nov. 4];10(12). Available from: https://ejcrim.com/index.php/ejcrim/article/view/4122