ABSTRACT
Can one live without the inferior vena cava?
A 29-year-old man came to the Emergency Department due to fever for 5 days, left-sided renal colic for 3 weeks and swelling of the left lower limb extending up to the thigh for 3 days. Computed angiography revealed a developmental anomaly in the form of the absence of the inferior vena cava, with the iliac veins merging into varicose (dilated to 52 mm) vessels left of the aorta and draining together with both renal veins into dilated azygos veins, which are responsible for venous outflow from the abdominal cavity and pelvis, and signs of thrombosis of the right common iliac vein with preserved flow. Agenesis of the inferior vena cava (AIVC) is a rare congenital anomaly (0.3-0.5%). Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a frequent finding in healthy, young adults with AIVC. The most common presentation of AIVC is duplication and a retroaortic left renal vein. DVT associated with AIVC may be present in more than 5% of the cases.
Piśmiennictwo
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