Congenital Absence of Inferior Vena Cava in a Young Patient with Iliofemoral Deep Venous Thrombosis Treated with Ultrasound-accelerated Catheter-directed Thrombolysis: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Systematic review of inferior vena cava atresia

OBJECTIVE

Inferior vena cava (IVC) atresia is a rare venous anomaly characterized by absence of the IVC. It has been associated with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other congenital anomalies. The aim of the present study is to provide a comprehensive summary of the literature on IVC atresia and discuss the presentation and outcomes of patients with IVC atresia.

METHODS

A systematic review of the English literature up to April 2020 was performed. The presentations and treatments reported were noted and compared between the two sexes. The IVC atresia cases were further stratified into isolated IVC atresia and IVC atresia associated with other congenital anomalies.

RESULTS

A total of 412 abstracts were screened, with 178 reports included. A total of 376 patients were analyzed. Overall, males seem to be more affected than females, with a ratio of almost 2:1 (male, 227 [64.1%]; vs female, 127 [35.8%]). However, females were more likely to have congenital IVC atresia compared with males (46.1% vs 21.3%; P < .001). The mean age at presentation was 27.9 ± 18.0 years (range, 0-77 years), with no differences between the sexes. Most patients with IVC atresia presented with DVT (n = 242 of 376; 64.3%), with the iliac veins most often affected (n = 159 of 242; 65.7%). No difference was found in the reported proportion of patients presenting with DVT between the two sexes. The symptom presentation was similar, with leg pain and swelling the most common in both sexes. The patients were treated either medically with anticoagulation or surgically (open or endovascular). No mortality was reported with isolated IVC atresia in either treatment group. However, the mortality of patients with IVC atresia associated with other congenital anomalies was 11.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

IVC atresia is more common in males but seems to have a predilection for females in the setting of other congenital anomalies. Most patients present with leg pain and swelling related to the development of DVT. Open and endovascular surgical interventions to treat IVC atresia have been reported in 18.3% of patients reviewed, with acceptable mid-term results in terms of patency and symptomatic relief.

Conservative treatment vs thrombus removal for Iliofemoral vein thrombosis in patients with congenital abnormalities of the inferior vena cava: a case report and systematic review of the literature

Congenital abnormalities of the Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) should be suspected in cases of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT), especially in young patients, with no other risk factors and apparent causes. Currently, there is no guidance regarding the management of such patients. We report a case of Iliofemoral vein thrombosis in a young patient with congenital absence of the IVC that was successfully treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) and perform a systematic review of the literature to identify evidence about the epidemiology, clinical presentation, management, and prognosis of this rare cause of DVT. A total of 42 studies reporting on 56 cases were included in the review. The mean age of the patients at the presentation of their first DVT episode is 23.6 years, 83.9% of patients were males, conservative management with anticoagulation was used in 68% of the reported cases, and thrombolysis was used in 32% of the cases. Only 10.7% of patients presented with PE potentially justified by the abnormal anatomy of the deep veins which makes the propagation of thrombi into the pulmonary arteries less possible. Comparing the long-term outcomes of the two treatment groups; 42.3% of the patients treated conservatively vs 15.4% of the patients treated with thrombolysis developed chronic symptoms (residual heaviness, pain, swelling, and cramping). 11.5% of patients who received conservative treatment developed post-thrombotic syndrome. None of the patients treated with thrombolysis developed post-thrombotic syndrome. There were no procedure-related complications and thrombolysis was well tolerated by the entirety of the thrombolysis treatment group. Recurrence of DVT occurred in 13% of the patients treated conservatively and in 7.7% of patients treated with thrombolysis. Thrombus removal by means of thrombolysis is the recommended treatment and can offer excellent short and long-term results. Anticoagulation with NOACs may be prescribed for life to prevent recurrence or for at least 6 months and then reconsidered following further evaluation of patients' bleeding risk. It may be of value to organise an international registry for such patients. Guidelines issued by the relevant scientific societies will then be able to make a clear recommendation about the management of such patients.

Bilateral proximal deep vein thrombosis and COVID ‐19 in a patient with absence of inferior vena cava: A case report and review of literature

Bilateral proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the lower extremities of young patients should raise suspicion over pro‐thrombotic conditions and venous anatomical abnormalities, even in the presence of other precipitating factors, such as viral infection. The authors present a 33‐year‐old man with bilateral DVT and absence of inferior vena cava (AIVC), who also had concurrent COVID‐19, and discuss the management of this patient.

[Catheter-directed thrombolysis in iliofemoral thrombosis and aplasia of the inferior vena cava]

Demonstrated in the article are the results of catheter-directed thrombolysis in a male patient presenting with bilateral acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis on the background of aplasia of the inferior vena cava. The incidence rate of this pathology is specified, with an emphasis on no recommendations on choosing optimal therapeutic strategy in this cohort of patients. The main causes and complications of the disease are described. The realized policy of revascularization demonstrated its safety and efficacy. The chosen method of correction resulted in a successful outcome of treatment, preventing phlegmasia cerulea dolens. This policy can be recommended as most preferred for patients with acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis on the background of aplasia of the inferior venal cava.

[Pulmonary embolism and inferior vena cava agenesis: An unusual association]

INTRODUCTION

Inferior vena cava agenesis is a rare congenital anomaly, generally associated with thrombophilic conditions, and a predisposing factor for deep venous thrombosis (DVT), rarely complicated by pulmonary embolism, in a young population with atypical clinical features and frequent absence of risk factors.

CASE REPORT

We report the case of a 30-year-old woman who developed a right iliac DVT, initially presenting as a low back pain and complicated by a pulmonary embolism, 8 months after a sleeve gastrectomy. Chest CT angiography revealed abnormalities that led to the diagnosis of inferior vena cava agenesis. Thrombophilic screening showed a heterozygous prothrombin gene mutation G20210A and hyperhomocysteinemia. The patient was treated with rivaroxaban with good results after 2 years of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

In young patients without risk factors developing a deep venous thrombosis, an inferior vena cava anomaly should be considered. Although no therapeutic consensus has been currently established, inferior vena cava agenesis seems to be associated with a high prevalence of thrombophilic disorders. Screening could be useful, particularly in patients with a thrombotic family history.

An unusual case of deep venous thrombosis in a young patient: congenital absence of the infrarenal portion of the inferior vena cava

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a commonly encountered diagnosis in clinical practice with a variety of well-established risk factors. Congenital absence of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is an extremely rare but established risk factor for DVT. Patients who develop DVTs are at high risk of long-term complications, including DVT recurrence and post-thrombotic syndrome. Here we report a rare case of a 27-year-old female who presented with an extensive DVT of the right lower extremity secondary to complete absence of the infrarenal portion of the IVC, confirmed on computed tomography. There is little consensus regarding the appropriate management of this patient population, and a brief review of the current evidence follows.