Relationship of the Azygos Venous System to Normal Atrial Situs in Levocardia

Abstract

Levocardia with abdominal visceral situs inversus is associated with complex intracardiac malformation and most often with inversion of the atria. In patients with levocardia, if the azygos venous system replaces the inferior vena cava as the principal or only avenue of venous return from below the diaphragm, the position of the right and left atria may be normal. Patients with levocardia associated with simple ostium secundum atrial septal defects that were surgically corrected are briefly presented.