Congenital obliteration of the suprahepatic inferior vena cava: Case report

Abstract

A rare case of congenital obliteration of the suprahepatic portion of the inferior vena cava (IVC) associated with early liver cirrhosis is presented. The clinical signs of the condition and the standard methods of diagnosis are outlined. A survey of the available surgical management is given and a new alternative operation described. It consists of an indirect transatrial-transdiaphragmatic reconstruction of the IVC. For the first time, it has been used successfully for reconstruction of the interrupted vessel. Ten months following the operation, the patient shows no signs of portal hypertension or caval obstruction.