Key Clinical Message : Congenital absence of Inferior
Vena cava is a rare anomaly . As the case for other congenital anomalies
, it should be suspected at all ages in any patient who presents with
recurrent complications of venous stagnation such as PE and recurrent
DVTs . Key Clinical findings are : recurrent DVT and/or PE and Stigmata of
Venous engorgement as a result of development/enlargement of collateral
veins .
Background : Congenital absence of Inferior Vena Cava (
CAIVC ) is a rare anomaly in which the lower-body venous return is
impaired . There is usually engorgement of other veins especially Azygos
and Hemiazygos systems.
Ethical Clearance : A full Informed consent was
taken from the patient . Permission was taken from the patient for
publication.
Case summary : a 47 year-old man
successfully treated for PE . Later discovered to have left sided venous
engorgement in the abdomen and left lower limb . He was later found to have congenital absence of inferior vena cava and was prepared for
further investigations including venography and coagulation profile .