My Father is 75 year old and 3 year ago he needed a pacemaker and during the operation they discovered he is missing his superior vena cava.
Sorry, I need to correct, that I miss the inferior vena cava, I guess its more popular, than missng the superor vc.
Yes, that´s right. The blood flows through smaller veins, which the body has created to replace the missing one. I also have missed the superior vena cava from birth, but it was discovered just couple of years ago because of massive thrombosis at my both legs. I was treated in Helsinki University Hospital´s bleeding disorder clinic (I am Finnish), and I ´m quite well now. I get little out of breath when walking uphills but not otherwise.
I'm not sure how the blood is circulating to the heart, but I have a theory. I would think that the body would reroute the blood to accomodate for the missing vessel, and as such more blood would flow through smaller veins than would in anyone who has a Superior Vena Cava. We recently discovered that my mother has the same problem because of an issue with her stomach and digestive system ingeneral. For some reason, She hasnt had a bowel movement in about a month, and doctors have been running tests on her constantly. During the last CT scan, while running contrast they discovered the missing Vena Cava. They think the two may be connected, as do I. I believe that because of the body trying to make up for the missing link, the amount of blood flowing through the veins in her lower body is greater than the veins can accomodate, and have become swollen or inlarged. Because of this, i believe it has caused a narrowing of her intestines, causeing a blockage. Any Feedback?
Pandalytle
wow this has me very intrigued, even though it doesn't seem possible. The superior vena cava receives used blood from the upper half of the body and is connected to the right atrium. How is the blood from the upper part of the body getting back into the right side of the heart? Is it going through the inferior vena cava?