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

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.