Diagnosis of persistent left superior vena cava by multiplane transesophageal echocardiography.

Persistent left superior vena cava occurs in 2-4% of all congenital cardiac defects. The diagnosis is often missed if the lesion is not accurately looked for. Drainage to the coronary sinus is well tolerated, whereas drainage to the left atrium produces right to left shunt and may be associated with brain abscesses and/or embolization secondary to intravenous therapy administered through the left arm. This paper describes for the first time the diagnosis of persistent left superior vena cava by transesophageal contrast echocardiography. Echocardiography is the method of choice in the diagnosis of persistent left superior vena cava, because it can be used at the patient's bedside and allows easy detection of the drainage site.