LIGATION or plication of the inferior vena cava has, of late, become a rather common surgical procedure in the management of thromboembolic disease. A basic knowledge of the anatomy and anatomical variants is essential in the surgical care of patients and in radiologic interpretation of studies of the inferior vena cava. A recent clinical experience demonstrating an extremely rare congenital anomaly of the position of the inferior vena cava prompted this report.
Report of Case
A 21-year-old white man was admitted to the Newton-Wellesley Hospital on Nov 10, 1965, shortly after being involved in an auto accident. He was complaining of pain in the right anterior side of the chest and lower abdomen with dyspnea and dysphagia. Diagnoses of contusions of larynx, abdomen, anterior chest, and knee were made.Abdominal laparotomy was carried out on Nov 12, 1965, because of persistent abdominal pain, tenderness, and the finding of blood on