Brain abscess with persistent left superior vena cava

Abstract

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is the most common congenital cardiac anomaly occurring in around 0.4% of the general population, and 1.3-4.5% in those with additional cardiac defects. Eighty-two percent of PLSVC coexists with a right superior vena cava. Usually PLSVC is asymptomatic, but can cause difficulties during central venous cannulation from the left side. There are a few cases of brain abscess in the literature associated with PLSVC. Here, we describe a patient of brain abscess with PLSVC in the intensive care unit of King Faisal Hospital, Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.