VCOM Louisiana Research Day Program

Clinical & Case Studies

Marlie Giardina, OMS-III; Victoria Fontenot, OMS-III; Alexander Grieme, OMS-III; David Hall, OMS-III; Madison Lambert, MS, OMS-III; Victor Obuekwe, OMS-III; Claude Pertuit, OMS-III; Daniel Wheeler, OMS-III; Kristina Zarenko, PhD; Colleen Cheverko, PhD Osteopathic Medical Students, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Louisiana; Division of Anatomical Sciences, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Louisiana 16 ASYMPTOMATIC CONGENITAL LEFT ATRIAL SHUNT FROM THE SUPERIOR VENA CAVA DISCOVERED IN MALE CADAVER

Context: Congenital heart defects can impact morbidity and mortality over time. Complications in both children and adults may arise due to insufficient oxygen distribution in peripheral organ tissues. Most anomalies develop in utero, and early detection with surgical correction of such defects could be instrumental in preventing future problems. However, not all congenital heart defects are discovered early, and asymptomatic cases may evade diagnosis or treatment through later decades of life. One extremely rare cardiac deformity outlined in this report is of an anomalous connection between the superior vena cava and the left atrium. Objective: The goal of this study was to analyze the unique cardiac anatomy and systemic complications of a congenital heart defect in a geriatric patient in the anatomy laboratory. Methods: We performed a macroscopic evaluation of 22 cadaveric hearts post dissection in a medical student anatomy laboratory to examine their hearts and associated great vessels for signs of congenital heart defects. Any noted were studied in detail. Results: One of the 22 cadaveric hearts demonstrated evidence of a possible congenital heart defect. A 71-year-old male was found

to have a three-millimeter-wide defect in his superior vena cava. Conclusion: Congenital right-to-left shunts of the superior vena cava have various symptomatic impacts depending on size and severity. It is hypothesized that the defect discovered in the patient was small enough to be missed on a screening exam, likely produce minimal symptoms, and would not have warranted surgical treatment in later adulthood due to additional health concerns. This study could provide a viable differential diagnosis of congenital cardiac anomalies, clinical presentation of minor cardiac shunts, and idiopathic cyanosis in the elderly.

29 2023 Via Research Recognition Day