Conduta obstétrica em caso de hipoplasia materna da veia cava inferior / Obstetric management in case of the maternal inferior vena cava hypoplasia

A hipoplasia da veia cava inferior é uma patologia rara que integra o conjunto de anomalias do desenvolvimento da veia cava inferior. A sua incidência situa-se entre 0,3%-0,5% na população saudável e 5% nos adultos jovens sem fatores de risco para trombose venosa profunda, sendo considerada um importante fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de trombose dos membros inferiores. O principal objetivo deste trabalho é reportar a conduta obstétrica de um caso clínico de uma grávida diagnosticada com hipoplasia da veia cava inferior, prévia à gravidez. Trata-se de um caso clínico, de uma grávida, primigesta, com 37 anos, com hipoplasia da veia cava inferior e heterozigotia para o gene MTHFR677 diagnosticadas, na sequência de uma trombose venosa bilateral dos membros inferiores e do segmento infrarrenal da veia cava inferior. A gravidez foi seguida em consulta hospitalar na nossa instituição, tendo a grávida sido medicada com enoxaparina em dose profilática e ácido acetilsalicílico, com um período pré natal que decorreu sem intercorrências. Às 37 semanas e 6 dias de gestação, deu entrada no Serviço de Urgência de Obstetrícia por rotura prematura de membranas. Intraparto foram utilizadas meias de compressão pneumática intermitente, tendo o parto ocorrido às 38 semanas de gestação por via vaginal (parto eutócico), do qual nasceu um recém-nascido do sexo feminino, com 2620g e índice de Apgar 9/10/10. O presente caso clínico demonstra que em situações de hipoplasia da veia cava inferior com um seguimento obstétrico adequado é possível a realização de um parto vaginal, possibilitando um desfecho obstétrico favorável (AU).

Hypoplasia of the inferior vena cava is a rare condition that belongs to the group of developmental anomalies of the inferior vena cava. It has an incidence between 0.3% and 0.5% in the healthy population and 5% in young adults without risk factors for deep venous thrombosis, being considered an important risk factor for the development of lower limb thrombosis. This study aims to report the obstetric conduct of a clinical case of a pregnant woman diagnosed with hypoplasia of the inferior vena cava prior to pregnancy. This is a clinical case of a pregnant woman, primigravid 37 years old, with hypoplasia of the inferior vena cava and heterozygosity for MTHFR677, diagnosed following a bilateral venous thrombosis of the lower limbs and the infrarenal segment of the inferior vena cava. The pregnancy was followed up in our institution. The pregnant woman was medicated with a prophylatic dose of low molecular weight heparin and acetylsalicylic acid with an uneventful prenatal period. At 37 weeks and 6 days of gestation, she was admitted to the Obstetrics Emergency Service due to premature rupture of membranes. Intermittent pneumatic compression sockings were used intrapartum, and at 38 weeks of gestation, a female newborn was vaginally delivered (eutocic delivery) with 2620g and an Apgar score of 9/10/10. The present clinical case demonstrates that in situations of hypoplasia of the inferior vena cava with an adequate obstetric follow-up, it is possible to perform a vaginal delivery, enabling a favourable obstetric outcome (AU).

Rare case of concomitant juxtarenal aortic aneurysm and type 1 Inferior Vena Cava duplication: -intraoperative challenges to avoid catastrophe / Caso raro de aneurisma de aorta justarrenal e duplicação do tipo 1 concomitantes na veia cava inferior - desafios intraoperatórios para evitar catástrofes

Abstract Duplication of the inferior vena cava is a rare congenital anomaly, with an incidence of 0.2-3%. Despite being asymptomatic, anomalies of IVC are important in aortoiliac and retroperitoneal surgeries. Preoperative CT imaging is essential to identify any IVC anomaly and to prevent unexpected hemorrhage during surgery. Here, we report a case of a juxtarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm in which we encountered a type I IVC duplication anomaly intraoperatively while performing transperitoneal aneurysmorrhaphy and took precautions to avoid any iatrogenic injuries to either of the two trunks or the pre-aortic trunk of the anomalous duplicate IVC.

Resumo A duplicação da veia cava inferior (VCI) é uma anomalia congênita rara com incidência de 0,2 a 3%. Apesar de assintomáticas, anomalias da VCI são importantes em cirurgias aortoilíacas e retroperitoneais. A imagem da tomografia pré-operatória é essencial para identificar qualquer anomalia de VCI e para evitar hemorragia inesperada durante a cirurgia. Relatamos um caso de aneurisma de aorta abdominal justarrenal, no qual encontramos uma anomalia de duplicação de VCI do tipo 1 intraoperatório enquanto realizávamos correção cirúrgica de aneurisma transperitoneal. Por isso, tomamos a precaução para evitar qualquer lesão iatrogênica nos dois troncos e no tronco pré-aórtico de VCI duplicada anômala.

Agenesia de segmento infra-hepático de veia cava inferior associada a trombose venosa profunda de repetição: relato de caso / Agenesis of the infra-hepatic segment of the inferior vena cava associated with recurrent deep venous thrombosis: case report

Resumo A agenesia de veia cava inferior é descrita em menos de 1% da população, de ocorrência rara e devido a alterações embrionárias. Sua correlação com a trombose venosa profunda certamente é subestimada, visto que tal alteração é de difícil detecção pela ultrassonografia. O objetivo deste artigo foi relatar o caso de uma paciente de 41 anos com dor e edema até a raiz de coxa direita após cirurgia plástica. Foi realizado dúplex venoso de membros inferiores e evidenciada trombose venosa profunda ilíaco-femoro-poplíteo e distal bilateralmente. Solicitado angiotomografia venosa devido a não visualização de veia cava inferior no ultrassom, evidenciando trombose de plexo lombar direito e segmento ilíaco-femoral bilateral, além de agenesia de segmento infra-hepático de veia cava inferior, com ectasia e tortuosidade compensatória de veias paravertebrais, sistema ázigos e hemiázigos, com varizes pélvicas bilateralmente. Foi realizada anticoagulação sistêmica e oral, com boa evolução clínica.

Abstract Agenesis of the inferior vena cava (IVC) has been described in less than 1% of the population; a rare occurrence caused by embryonic abnormalities. Its correlation with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is certainly underestimated, since this change is hard to detect using ultrasound. The aim of the article is to report the case of a 41-year-old female patient with pain and edema up to the top of the right thigh after plastic surgery. Bilateral venous duplex ultrasound revealed bilateral DVT involving iliac-femoral-popliteal and distal segments. Venous angiotomography was requested because the IVC was not visible on ultrasound, revealing thrombosis of the right lumbar plexus and iliofemoral segment bilaterally and agenesis of the infrahepatic segment of the inferior vena cava, with ectasia and compensatory tortuosity of paravertebral veins and the azygos-hemiazygos system, and bilateral pelvic varices. Systemic and oral anticoagulation were administered, with a satisfactory clinical response.

Tratamento endovascular de síndrome congestiva venosa pélvica em paciente com duplicação de veia cava inferior e anatomia venosa pélvica incomum: revisão bibliográfica / Endovascular treatment of pelvic venous congestion syndrome in a patient with duplication of the inferior vena cava and unusual pelvic venous anatomy: literature review

Resumo A dor pélvica crônica afeta aproximadamente 1/3 de todas as mulheres e é responsável por cerca de 20% de todas as consultas ginecológicas. Os autores relatam um raro caso de congestão venosa pélvica sintomática na presença de duplicação de veia cava inferior e comunicação interilíaca através de veia hipogástrica direita tratado com abordagem endovascular, por embolização das veias varicosas pélvicas e revisão da literatura publicada.

Abstract Chronic pelvic pain affects approximately one-third of all women and is responsible for about 20% of all gynecological consultations. The authors report a rare case of symptomatic pelvic venous congestion in the presence of duplication of the inferior vena cava and inter-iliac communication through the right hypogastric vein that was treated via an endovascular approach with embolization of varicose pelvic veins. The published literature is reviewed.

Five veins at the deep inguinal ring: can they reduce the chances of indirect inguinal hernia and increase the chances of varicocele? / Cinco venas en el anillo inguinal profundo. ¿pueden reducir las probabilidades de una hernia inguinal indirecta y aumentar las posibilidades de varicocele?

Complete duplication of testicular veins is a rare phenomenon. However, a few cases of duplication of gonadal veins have been reported. Here, I report a case of unusual formation and termination of the right testicular vein in an adult male cadaver. Five veins arose from the pampinniform plexus and entered the abdomen through the deep inguinal ring. The most medial among the five was large (3 mm in diameter) and it continued as a testicular vein and opened into the right edge of the inferior vena cava, 1 cm above the union of the common iliac veins. The other four veins were about 1 mm in diameter and they united to form two veins in front of the lower part of the right psoas and iliacus muscles (about 2 cm above the deep inguinal ring) and the two veins united to form upper testicular vein, 4 cm above the deep inguinal ring. This testicular vein was 3 mm in diameter and it opened into the inferior vena cava, 4 cm above the union of common iliac veins. Having five veins at deep inguinal ring might increase the chances of varicocele and decrease the chances of indirect inguinal hernia.

La duplicación completa de las venas testiculares es un fenómeno raro. Sin embargo, se han reportado algunos casos de duplicación de venas gonadales. En el presente trabajo se informa un caso de formación y terminación inusual de la vena testicular derecha en un cadáver de un hombre adulto. Cinco venas surgieron del plexo pampiniforme y penetraron en el abdomen a través del anillo inguinal profundo. El más medial entre los cinco fue de gran tamaño (3 mm de diámetro) y continuó como una vena testicular y se abrió hacia el margen derecho de la vena cava inferior, 1 cm por encima de la unión de las venas ilíacas comunes. Las cuatro venas restantes eran de 1 mm de diámetro aproximadamente, y se unieron para formar dos venas frente a la parte inferior de los músculos psoas e ilíaco derechos (aproximadamente 2 cm por encima del anillo inguinal profundo). Se unieron dos venas para formar la vena testicular superior, la cual medía 3 mm de diámetro y se abría hacia la vena cava inferior, 4 cm por encima de la unión de las venas ilíacas comunes. Cinco venas en el anillo inguinal profundo podrían aumentar las posibilidades de varicocele y disminuir las posibilidades de una hernia inguinal indirecta.

Ascitis fetal como forma de presentación de agenesia de la vena cava inferior / Fetal ascites as clinical presentation of inferior vena cava agenesis

La vena cava inferior (VCI) está constituida por tres segmentos de diferente origen embriológico. De su mala fusión, surge un amplio espectro de anomalías. La prevalencia de anomalías de la VCI es de 0,07-8,7% de la población. Generalmente, se diagnostica como hallazgo incidental en la vida adulta. Representa el 5-9,5% de las trombosis venosas profundas idiopáticas en menores de 30 años sin factores de riesgo asociados. Se presenta a una recién nacida a término con diagnóstico prenatal de ascitis en la semana 20 de gestación. Se diagnosticó, mediante angiotomografía abdominal, la agenesia de VCI. El tratamiento de pacientes con agenesia de la VCI se basa en el manejo de las complicaciones. Debido al mayor riesgo que presentan de sufrir un evento trombótico, se debe considerar la profilaxis antitrombótica a largo plazo. Se recomienda iniciar profilaxis anticoagulante en la pubertad.

Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) is composed of three segments from different embryological origin. Its lack of fusion originates a wide spectrum of anomalies of the IVC. These malformations are present in 0.07-8.7% of the population. It is generally diagnosed as an incidental finding in adult life. It represents between 5 and 9.5% of idiopathic deep vein thrombosis in patients younger than 30 years old without associated risk factors. We present a case of a term newborn with prenatal diagnosis of ascites during the 20th week of gestation. IVC Agenesis was diagnosed with the use of abdominal angiotomography. The treatment of patients with IVC Agenesis is based on the management of its complications. Due to the increased thrombotic risk of these patients, we should consider lifelong anticoagulation. We suggest initiating it during puberty.

Interrupcion de vena cava inferior: diagnostico prenatal de sus variantes / Inferior vena cava interruption: prenatal diagnosis of its variants

La anomalía más frecuente de la vena cava inferior es su interrupción. En estos casos, el drenaje al corazón se realizará por la vena ácigos y menos frecuentemente por la vena hemiácigos. Se considera un marcador ecográfico prenatal de isomerismos y/o cardiopatías por lo que su hallazgo obliga a descartarlos realizando una ecografía detallada del corazón y del situs fetal. Además, probablemente sea de las anomalías venosas que más implicaciones clínicas pueden tener en la edad adulta por su asociación a trombosis venosa profunda y es útil conocer la anatomía para posibles futuros procedimientos quirúrgicos o cateterismos cardiacos. Por lo tanto, es interesante realizar el diagnóstico prenatal, aunque se presente de forma aislada, siendo su diagnóstico ecográfico sencillo si somos sistemáticos en la práctica de la ecografía morfológica. El signo característico ecográfico es el de «doble vaso¼ o «doble burbuja¼ en un corte axial abdominal o torácico. Presentamos los esquemas ecográficos de diagnóstico de los dos tipos de drenaje principales de la interrupción de la vena cava inferior para poder realizar el correcto diagnóstico prenatal. Para ello tomamos de referencia dos casos clínicos que no presentan cardiopatías ni isomerismos asociados.

The most frequent anomaly of the inferior vena cava is its interruption. In these cases, drains into the heart by the azygos vein and less frequently by the hemiazygos vein. It is considered a prenatal ultrasound marker of isomerisms and/or heart disease, therefore, its finding requires to discard them by performing a detailed ultrasound of the fetal heart and situs. Probably it is one of the venous anomalies with more clinical implications in adulthood due to their association with deep venous thrombosis, and it is useful to know the anatomy for possible future surgical or cardiac catheterization procedures. Therefore, it is interesting to perform the prenatal diagnosis, although isolated. In this sense, the ultrasound diagnosis of the interruption is simple if we are systematic in the practice of morphological ultrasound. The characteristic ultrasound sign of the aforementioned interruption is the "double vessel" or "double bubble" in an axial abdominal or thoracic section. We present the ultrasound diagnosis diagrams of the two main types of drainage of the inferior vena cava interruption in order to perform the correct prenatal diagnosis. For these purposes, we refer two cases with no heart diseases or isomerisms associated.

Double inferior vena cava detected by CT venography and confirmed by magnetic resonance venography: embryogenesis and literature review / Doble vena cava inferior detectada a través de venografía por tomografía computada y confirmada con venografía por resonancia magnética: embriogénesis y revisión de la literatura

A hospital based prospective study was conducted from July 2001 to July 2015 at the Department of Radiology, Jordan University Hospital, Amman, Jordan. During that period, five cases of double inferior vena cava (DIVC) were discovered among a cohort of 7722 patients (3861 men and 3861 women, 49.5±16.9 years, range 16­78 years). Cases were diagnosed by contrast-enhanced Spiral CT venography (CTV) and confirmed by turbo three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight contrast-enhanced MR venography. The majority of patients 3166 (41 %) were referred for staging and follow-up of malignancy, postoperative complications 1777 (23 %), non-specific abdominal pain 1467 (19 %), preoperative assessment 849 (11 %) and trauma 463 (6 %). Magnetic resonance venography showed higher sensitivity, diagnostic accuracy and noninvasive modality for assessment of IVC map. MRV is a more useful, noninvasive modality for assessment of IVC map. DIVC is a common anomaly, its incidence in our study found to be 0.064 %. The incidence, literature review, embryogenesis, and importance of this anomaly are discussed. In addition, sample figures of relevant cases are provided.

En el Departamento de Radiología del Hospital de la Universidad de Jordania, Amman, Jordania, se llevó a cabo un estudio prospectivo entre el mes de julio de 2001 al mes de julio del 2015. Durante ese período se descubrieron cinco casos de vena cava inferior doble (VCID) en una cohorte de 7722 pacientes (3861 hombres y mujeres 3861, de 49,5 ± 16,9 años, con un rango de edad de 16-78 años). Los casos fueron diagnosticados por medio de venografía por tomografía computada espiral con contraste (TCV) y confirmados por medio de venografía por estudio tridimensional turbo. La mayoría de los pacientes (3166, 41 %) fueron remitidos para estadificación y seguimiento de tumores malignos. Se presentaron complicaciones postoperatorias en 1777 pacientes (23 %), dolor abdominal no especificado en 1467 (19 %), evaluación preoperatoria en 849 (11 %) y traumatismo en 463 pacientes (6 %). La venografía por resonancia magnética (RMV) mostró una mayor sensibilidad, precisión diagnóstica, y resultando no invasiva para la evaluación de la vena cava inferior (VCI). RMV es una modalidad más útil, no invasiva para la evaluación de la VCI. VCID es una anomalía frecuente, encontrándose en nuestro estudio una incidencia de 0,064 %. Además se realizó una revisión de la literatura, la embriogénesis, y la importancia de esta anomalía. También, se proporcionaron cifras de muestras de los casos relevantes.

Ausencia congénita de la vena porta hepática asociada a malrotación intestinal y a vena cava inferior izquierda: reporte de caso / Congenital absence of the hepatic portal vein associated to intestinal malrotation and left-sided inferior vena cava: a case report

La ausencia congénita de la vena porta hepática es una malformación en extremo rara, fue descrita por primera vez en 1793 por John Abernethy y a la fecha se han reportado sólo 101 casos. Afecta con mayor frecuencia a mujeres y determina que el drenaje venoso intestinal sea derivado hacia el territorio de las venas sistémicas. Es también conocida como derivación porto-sistémica extra hepática congénita (CEPS), por su sigla en inglés, y se asocia a otras alteraciones congénitas,incluyendo anomalías cardíacas, de las vías biliares, enfermedades metabólicas y retardo mental. En este trabajo presentamos el hallazgo de esta malformación en el cadáver de un niño de dos años de edad, donde la vena porta seguía un trayecto anómalo y se unía a la vena renal derecha. El confluente venoso "mesentérico-esplénico-renal" así formado presentaba un trayecto descendente, recibía a la vena gonadal derecha, y desembocando en la confluencia de las venas ilíacas comunes. Esto se asociaba a mal rotación intestinal, arteria hepática aberrante y a vena cava inferior izquierda, situación descrita sólo una vez en la literatura. El hallazgo de estas anomalías anatómicas en los cadáveres disecados con fines docentes en nuestro Departamento de Anatomía, tiene un valor formativo indiscutible para nuestros alumnos de pre y postgrado, quienes pueden valorar las implicancias de este conocimiento anatómico en la clínica diaria.

Congenital absence of the hepatic portal vein is an extremely rare malformation that was first described by John Abernethy in 1793. Only 101 cases had been described in the literature until 2015 and most affected females. In this anomaly, also known as congenital extrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (CEPS), intestinal venous drainage is derived towards the territory of the systemic veins and could be associated with other birth defects, including heart and biliary tract anomalies, metabolic diseases, mental retardation. We present the case of a 2-year-old boy who died because of multifocal pneumonia and necropsy showed anatomical findings consistent with this malformation as an incidental finding. The portal vein followed an anomalous course and joined the right renal vein, forming the "mesenteric-splenic-renal" venous collector, which then received the right gonadal vein and ended at the confluence of the common iliac veins. In our case this anomaly was associated to intestinal malrotation, aberrant hepatic artery and persistent left inferior vena cava, situation described once in the literature. The finding of these anatomical abnormalities in cadavers has a great teaching value for our undergraduate and graduate students who are learning anatomy and they can also assess the associated clinical.

Right sided double inferior vena cava with obstructed retrocaval ureter: Managed with single incision multiple port laparoscopic technique using "Santosh Postgraduate Institute tacking ureteric fixation technique"

Right double inferior vena cava with obstructed retrocaval ureter is an extremely rare anomaly with only a few reported cases in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report describing ureteric repair by use of a single-incision laparoscopic technique. In addition, this report addresses the underlying surgical challenges of this repair and provides a brief review of the embryology of this anomaly. The "Santosh Postgraduate Institute ureteric tacking fixation technique" provides ease of end-to-end uretero-ureteric anastomosis in a single-incision laparoscopic surgery.

Síndrome da cimitarra: A propósito de três casos singulares / Scimitar syndrome: the purpose of three individual cases

Os autores relatam três casos de síndrome da cimitarra (SC), que em sua forma habitual cursa com drenagem venosa anômala no pulmão direito, de aspecto radiográfico característico, hipoplasia no referido pulmão e dextroposição cardíaca. Enfatizam sobre a radiografia simples do tórax, como principal exame na investigação diagnóstica, e o valor do estudo angiográfico, na elucidação de anomalias vasculares quando houver indicação cirúrgica. Outros exames complementares, como a tomografia computadorizada, são avaliados para a perfeita caracterização dessa síndrome e de suas variantes...

The authors write about three cases of scimitar syndrome which, commonly, releases as an atypical venous drainage of the right lung, with characteristic image, as well as hypoplasia of the same lung and dextropositioned heart. They emphasize the thoracic radiographic image as the most important complementary method of diagnosis and the importance of the angiographic study for the diagnose of vascular abnormalities with surgical indication. Other exams such as computerized tomography are of value in characterization of syndrome and its variants...

A Case of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated with Congenital Extrahepatic Portocaval Shunt

Congenital extrahepatic portocaval shunt (CEPS) is a rare anomaly of the mesenteric vasculature in which the intestinal and splenic venous drainage bypasses the liver and drains directly into the inferior vena cava, the left hepatic vein or the left renal vein. This uncommon disease is frequently associated with other malformations and mainly affects females. Here we report a case of pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with CEPS (Abernethy type 1b shunt) in a 20-yr-old man who was incidentally diagnosed during evaluation of multiple nodules of the liver. The patient was treated by inhalation of iloprost (40 microg/day) with improved condition and walking test. Physicians should note that congenital portocaval shunt may cause pulmonary hypertension.

MDCT Findings of Right Circumaortic Renal Vein with Ectopic Kidney

Anomalies of renal vasculature combined with ectopic kidneys were found on a multi-detector CT scan. Knowledge of renal vascular variation is very important for surgical exploration, radiologic intervention and staging for urologic cancer. We present an extremely rare case of a right circumaortic renal vein combined with a right ectopic kidney. The right kidney was located at the level between the third and fifth lumbar vertebra. The right circumaortic renal vein crossed the aorta and returned to the inferior vena cava behind the aorta.

Trombosis parcial de la vena cava inferior / Partial thrombosis of the inferior vena cava

La patología que suele afectar más frecuentemente a la vena cava inferior es la trombosis. Numerosas neoplasias han sido asociadas con trombosis de la vena cava inferior. Algunos tumores liberan sustancias protrombóticas, aumentando el riesgo de tromboembolia.

Ressonância magnética cardiovascular em veia cava inferior interrompida não prevista / Cardiovascular magnetic resonance in unsuspected interrupted inferior vena cava / Cardiovascular magnetic resonance in unsuspected interrupted inferior vena cava

A Veia Cava Inferior (VCI) interrompida é uma anomalia rara. As anomalias da VCI são clinicamente importantes para os cardiologistas e radiologistas que pretendem intervir na cavidade cardíaca direita. Descrevemos três casos de interrupção da VCI diagnosticados por meio de estudo imaginológico de ressonância magnética cardíaca.

Interrupted inferior vena cava (IVC) is a rare anomaly. Anomalies of IVC are clinically important for cardiologists and radiologists who plan to intervene in the right heart. We describe three cases of IVC interruption diagnosed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study.

La Vena Cava Inferior (VCI), interrumpida es una anomalía rara. Las anomalías de la VCI son clínicamente importantes para los cardiólogos y radiólogos que pretenden intervenir en la cavidad cardíaca derecha. Aquí describimos tres casos de interrupción de la VCI diagnosticados por medio de un estudio imaginológico de resonancia magnética cardíaca.

Posterior Nutcracker Syndrome Associated with Interrupted Left Inferior Vena Cava with Azygos Continuation and Retroaortic Right Renal Vein

Various anatomic anomalies have been considered the causes of nutcracker syndrome (NCS). Posterior NCS refers to the condition, in which vascular narrowing was secondary to the compression of the retroaortic left renal vein while it is crossing between the aorta and the vertebral column. Here, we report an unusual case of posterior NCS associated with a complicated malformation of the interrupted left inferior vena cava with azygos continuation and retroaortic right renal vein, diagnosed by both color Doppler ultrasonography and CT angiography.

Intracardiac Eustachian Valve Cyst in an Adult Detected with Other Cardiac Anomalies: Usefulness of Multidetector CT in Diagnosis

We present an unusual case of an intracardiac Eustachian valve cyst observed concurrently with atresia of the coronary sinus ostium, a persistent left superior vena cava (LSVC) and a bicuspid aortic valve. There have been several echocardiographic reports of Eustachian valve cysts; however, there is no report of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) findings related to a Eustachian valve cyst. Recently, we observed a Eustachian valve cyst diagnosed on MDCT showing a hypodense cyst at the characteristic location of the Eustachian valve (the junction of the right atrium and inferior vena cava). MDCT also demonstrated additional cardiovascular anomalies including atresia of the coronary sinus ostium and a persistent LSVC and bicuspid aortic valve.

Valva de Eustáquio proeminente ao ecocardiograma transesofágico: implicações clínicas e cirúrgicas do diagnóstico morfológico / Transesophageal view of a prominent Eustachian valve: clinical and surgical implications of the morphological diagnosis

The Eustachian valve (EV) is an embryonic remnant of the valve of the inferior vena cava (IVC). In some cases, the EV can be prominent and presenting as a thin, elongated and ecodense membrane, superimposed to the septal aspect of the RA, below the fossaovalis, partially dividing the RA in two chambers. Echocardiography is the method of choice for the diagnosis of this finding. The correct identification of this anatomic variant is very important for the differential diagnosis of the masses and tumors in the RA. Inpatients referred for cardiac surgery, as in the closure of atrial septal defects (ASD), it is fundamental the identification of this structureto avoid complications as the inadvertent closure of an EV considered as part of the atrial septum. The finding of a redundant EV can also add technical difficulties for the percutaneous treatment of ASD. The correct recognition and detailed description of this finding are important to avoid equivocal diagnosis and complications in patients referred for cardiac surgery. Thus, attention to this anatomicvariant, and careful TEE examination are fundamental for the correct diagnosis and therapeutic approach.

Fístula aortocava como complicación de aneurisma aórtico abdominal / Aortocaval fistula as a complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Aortocaval fistula (ACF) is an infrequent complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Diagnosis is suspected by the presence of a continuous abdominal bruit and pulsatile abdominal mass, with variable signs of venous congestion and acute heart failure. Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) is useful in establishing the diagnosis, showing early enhancement of inferior vena cava and, in some cases, identifying the arteriovenous comunication. Surgical treatment is usually complex, with high morbidity and mortality rates. Endovascular treatment seems to be a promising alternative for the management of these patients. We report a case of ACF treated with open surgery and a literature review of this rare condition.

La fístula aortocava (FAC) es una complicación infrecuente del aneurisma aórtico abdominal (AAA). El diagnóstico se sospecha por la detección de un soplo continuo en el hemiabdomen inferior, asociado a masa abdominal pulsátil y signos variables de congestión venosa e insuficiencia cardíaca. La tomografía computada multicorte (TCM) permite confirmar el diagnóstico, evidenciando contraste de la vena cava inferior en fase arterial e identificando la zona anatómica de la comunicación arteriovenosa, en algunos casos. La reparación quirúrgica suele ser compleja, reportándose una alta morbi-mortalidad asociada. El uso de técnicas endovasculares pareciera mejorar el pronóstico de esta entidad. Reportamos un caso de FAC tratado mediante cirugía abierta. Se incluye una revisión de la literatura respecto a esta rara condición.