[Placement of a central venous catheter in cases of persistent left superior vena cava].

This article presents a case report on the placement of a central venous catheter (CVC) in a patient with an unknown persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC). Normally, PLSVCs remain asymptomatic but can be associated with disastrous consequences for the patient during placement of a CVC particularly due to vascular perforation and pulmonary injury. A PLSCV is particularly common in association with congenital heart defects; however, otherwise healthy patients can also be affected. As the presence of a PLSCV is normally unknown special attention must be paid in every patient during placement of a CVC.