A case report of an interrupted inferior vena cava and azygos continuation: implications for preoperative screening in minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

In patients with major venous malformations such as the interrupted IVC with azygos continuation a full sternotomy is the preferred approach. The venous system should be evaluated when screening candidates for minimally invasive mitral valve surgery with preoperative CT. Additional cues to suspect interruption of the IVC are polysplenia and a broad superior mediastinal projection on the chest radiograph, mimicking a right paratracheal mass.