Tetralogy of Fallot with an Anomalous Course of the Brachiocephalic Vein

Clinical data: Infant, 11-month-old, male, diagnosis of Tetralogy of Fallot with retrotracheoesophageal course of the brachiocephalic vein. Usual findings of Tetralogy of Fallot on physical examination. Technical description: Chest radiography showed slightly reduced pulmonary vascular markings and no cardiomegaly. Normal preoperative electrocardiogram with postoperative right bundle branch block. Usual findings of Tetralogy of Fallot on echocardiogram. Postoperative computed tomography angiography confirmed left brachiocephalic vein with anomalous retrotracheoesophageal course, configuring a U-shaped garland vein, in addition to postoperative findings of total correction of Tetralogy of Fallot. Operation: Complete surgical repair was performed with pulmonary valve commissurotomy and placement of bovine pericardial patch to solve right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, pulmonary trunk enlargement, and ventricular septal defect closure. Comments: Systemic venous drainage may show variations in patients with Tetralogy of Fallot. These abnormalities are usually of little clinical relevance, as they are asymptomatic. We presented a rare case of retrotracheoesophageal course of an anomalous left brachiocephalic vein with intraoperative diagnosis, confirmed by imaging during postoperative follow-up, without compromising clinical management or surgical approach.

Keywords:
Tetralogy of Fallot; Brachiocephalic Veins; Ventricular Heart Septal Defects; Echocardiography; Bundle Branch Block