Huhta J C, Smallhorn J F, Macartney F J
Cathet Cardiovasc Diagn. 1984;10(3):221-32. doi: 10.1002/ccd.1810100306.
Azygos continuation of the inferior vena cava has importance for both the invasive diagnosis of congenital heart disease by catheterization and for surgical treatment. Cross-sectional echocardiography was used to examine 1,000 patients (1 day to 16 years, mean 3.3 years) who also had angiographic or surgical confirmation. Twenty-eight patients (3%) had azygos continuation (left 13, right 14, bilateral 1) and, in 26 patients, the hepatic portion of the inferior vena cava was absent. Azygos continuation was prospectively detected in all and was directly visualized in subcostal scans as a venous structure posterior to the aorta coursing behind the heart and not entering the inferior aspect of either atrium in 26/28 (93%). Azygos connection to the ipsilateral superior vena cava or atrium was correctly predicted in all. The inferior vena cava was visualized in all patients without azygos continuation, except one neonate with omphalocele. We conclude that cross-sectional echocardiography can accurately detect azygos continuation of the inferior vena cava and predict its side and connection.
下腔静脉奇静脉延续对先天性心脏病的导管介入诊断及外科治疗均具有重要意义。采用横断面超声心动图对1000例患者（年龄1天至16岁，平均3.3岁）进行检查，这些患者同时有血管造影或手术证实。28例患者（3%）存在下腔静脉奇静脉延续（左侧13例，右侧14例，双侧1例），26例患者下腔静脉肝段缺如。所有下腔静脉奇静脉延续均被前瞻性检测到，在26/28例（93%）患者的肋下扫描中可直接显示为位于主动脉后方、心脏后方、不进入任一心房下侧的静脉结构。所有患者均正确预测了奇静脉与同侧上腔静脉或心房的连接。除1例患有脐膨出的新生儿外，所有无下腔静脉奇静脉延续的患者均可见下腔静脉。我们得出结论，横断面超声心动图能够准确检测下腔静脉奇静脉延续，并预测其侧别及连接情况。
