Absent Superior Vena Cava: An Uncommon Cause of Anomalous Systemic Venous Return

Abstract

We report a case of a one-year-old boy with tetralogy of Fallot, who was preoperatively diagnosed to have an associated systemic venous anomaly. Computed tomography confirmed the absent superior vena cava, and the case was managed with an appropriate cannulation strategy. Preoperative diagnosis and thorough planning of this rather benign anomaly were imperative for the successful outcome of this case. Clinical and surgical implications of this anomaly are discussed in this report.