Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T08:30:06.684Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Echocardiographic identification of the oblique vein of the left atrium: its relationship to the persistent left superior caval vein

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 April 2010

Renata R. Linhares ,
Carlos E. Suaide Silva ,
Claudia G. Monaco ,
Luiz D. Cortez Ferreira ,
Manuel A. Gil ,
Juarez Ortiz ,
Robert H. Anderson  and
Vera D. Aiello
Renata R. Linhares
Affiliation:
OMNI–CCNI – Diagnosis Medicine, Echocardiography Laboratory, São Paulo, Brazil
Carlos E. Suaide Silva
Affiliation:
OMNI–CCNI – Diagnosis Medicine, Echocardiography Laboratory, São Paulo, Brazil
Claudia G. Monaco
Affiliation:
OMNI–CCNI – Diagnosis Medicine, Echocardiography Laboratory, São Paulo, Brazil
Luiz D. Cortez Ferreira
Affiliation:
OMNI–CCNI – Diagnosis Medicine, Echocardiography Laboratory, São Paulo, Brazil
Manuel A. Gil
Affiliation:
OMNI–CCNI – Diagnosis Medicine, Echocardiography Laboratory, São Paulo, Brazil
Juarez Ortiz
Affiliation:
OMNI–CCNI – Diagnosis Medicine, Echocardiography Laboratory, São Paulo, Brazil
Robert H. Anderson
Affiliation:
Emeritus Professor of Paediatric Cardiac Morphology, University College, London, United Kingdom
Vera D. Aiello*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Pathology, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil
*
Correspondence to: V. D. Aiello, Laboratory of Pathology, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, Av. Dr Eneas Carvalho Aguiar, 44, 05403-000, São Paulo-SP, Brazil. Tel: +55 11 3069-5252; Fax: +55 11 3069-5279; E-mail: vera.aiello@incor.usp.br
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Thus far, little has been written concerning echocardiographic identification of the oblique vein of the left atrium, or Marshall’s vein. There is much discussion, nonetheless, on the potential significance of the vein, or its ligamentous remnant, as an arrhythmic substrate. We describe here four patients in whom transthoracic echocardiography revealed a venous structure protruding within the cavity of the left atrium. We discuss the possibility that these structures represent Marshall’s vein, albeit probably as part of a persistent left superior caval vein.

Keywords

Cardiac veinsechocardiographyMarshall’s vein
Type
Original Articles
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 20 , Issue 3 , June 2010 , pp. 269 - 274
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Marshall, J. On the development of the great anterior veins in man and mammalia: including an account of certain remnants of foetal structure found in the adult, a comparative view of these great veins in the different mammalia, and an analysis of their occasional peculiarities in the human subject. Philos Trans R Soc Lond 1850; 140: 133–169.Google Scholar
2. Kurotobi, T, Ito, H, Inoue, K, et al. Marshall vein as arrhytmogenic source in patients with atrial fibrillation: correlation between its anatomy and electrophysiological findings. J Cardiovasc Eletrophysiol 2006; 17: 1062–1067.Google Scholar
3. Zawadzki, M, Pietrasik, A, Petrasik, K, Marchel, M, Ciszek, B. Endoscopic study of the morphology of Vieussens valve. Clin Anat 2004; 17: 318–321.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4. Campbell, M, Deuchar, DC. The left-sided superior vena cava. Br Heart J 1954; 16: 423–439.Google Scholar
5. Fraser, RS, Dvorkin, J, Rossall, RE, Eidem, R. Left superior vena cava: a review of associated congenital heart lesions, catheterization data and roentgenologic findings. Am J Med 1961; 31: 711–716.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6. Anderson, RH, Latham, RA. The cellular architecture of the human atrioventricular node, with a note on its morphology in the presence of a left superior vena cava. J Anat 1971; 109: 443–455.Google Scholar
7. Biffi, M, Boriani, G, Frabetti, L, Bronzetti, G, Branzi, A. Left superior vena cava persistent in patients undergoing pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator implantation: a 10-year experience. Chest 2001; 120: 139–144.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8. Gilard, M, Mansourati, J, Etienne, Y, et al. Angiographic anatomy of the coronary sinus and its tributaries. Pace 1998; 21: 2280–2284.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9. Shalaby, AA. Utilization of intracardiac echocardiography to access the coronary sinus for left ventricular lead placement. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2005; 28: 493–497.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. Scholten, MF, Szili-Torok, T, Thornton, AS, Roelandt, JR, Jordaens, LJ. Visualization of a coronary sinus valve using intracardiac echocardiography. Eur J Echocardiogr 2004; 5: 93–96.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11. Cochrane, AD, Marath, A, Mee, RB. Can a dilated coronary sinus produce left ventricular inflow obstruction? An unrecognized entity. Ann Thorac Surg 1994; 58: 1114–1116.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed