Atrial septal defect closure complicated by anomalous inferior vena cava return to the left atrium: a case report of a 5-year-old child

The anatomy of the sinus venosus atrial septal defect (ASD) of the inferior vena caval type is complex. Limited rate of complications during its closure has been described. One of the unusual complications, with few case reports, is the iatrogenic diversion of the inferior vena cava (IVC) to the left atrium (LA).

We report the case of a 5-year-old boy who underwent previous surgical closure of sinus venosus ASD of the inferior vena caval type aged 2 years. Three years after surgery, he was diagnosed as having iatrogenic diversion of the IVC to the LA.

Cardiologists and cardiac surgeons should be aware of this rare but significant complication following routine ASD surgical repair and vigilant follow-up should be performed routinely.