A central venous catheter in a persistent left superior vena cava (SVC): Use it or lose it?

Abstract

Central Venous Catheters (CVC) fill an essential part of treatment with Bacteremia and shock patients in intensive care units. as part of treatment, a 73 years old patient hospitalized due to shock and MSSA bacteremia a CVC needed replacement and a new catheter inserted in the left internal jugular vein. A CXR performed after line insertion shows an unexpected route descending to the left upper mediastinum and suspected to be erroneously placed in the descending aorta. a previous chest computed tomography showed a small persistent left superior vena cava draining in the coronary sinus. In this paper we discuss the dilemma of location and utilization of a CVC in hemodynamically unstable patient.

Keywords:

• Central Venous Catheter (CVC)
• Left Persistent Superior Vena Cava (LPSVC)
• MSSA bacteremia
• intensive care

Author contributions

Our paper was a result of a cooperative effort. I am, Nadeem Shorbaji M.D., the radiologist reviewing the imaging of our patient and analyzing the computed tomography, together with Asaf Miller M.D., the head of intensive care, assessed the blood works and managed the insertion and utilization of the central venous catheter.

Disclosure statement

To the best of our knowledge, no conflict of interest, financial or other, exists.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.