[Persistent left superior vena cava: infrequent localization of central venous catheter]. / Vena cava superior izquierda persistente: localización infrecuente del catéter venoso central.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to report a Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava in a critically ill patient. DESIGN: Case report. PLACE: Intensive care unit of a referral center. PATIENT: A 52 years-old male without previous cardiovascular disease was admitted to the intensive care unit due to cranial trauma. A central left subclavian vein catheter was placed at his arrival at the center chest X-ray showed the catheter in the left of the cardiac silhohuete without hemo-pneumothorax. A angiographic evaluation through central venous catheter showed persistent left superior vena cava draining to the coronary sinus and right atrium with normal permeability of right superior vena cava. Other congenital alterations were excluded. Chest computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis. Persistent left superior vena cava is a congenital vascular abnormality. The intensive care unit staff must be aware of this vascular abnormality because it can complicate central venous catheterization.

[Non-hypothermic J wave in subarachnoid hemorrhage]. / Onda J no hipotérmica en hemorragia subaracnoidea.

Incidence of electrocardiographic abnormalities in subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to aneurysm rupture is 50-100%. The most frequent electrocardiographic abnormalities described include acuminated, inverted or flat T waves, inverted T waves associated with prolonged QT interval, positive or negative ST segment levels, prominent U waves, PR segment enlargement, acuminated P waves, and pathologic Q waves. J point is the isoelectric union of QRS complex with ST segment. It represents the end of depolarization and the beginning of repolarization. Prominent and positive J point level is named J wave, considered pathognomonic of severe hypothermia, although it has also been described in other clinical entities not associated with hypothermia, such as hypercalcemia, Brugada syndrome, acute brain injury, cardiac arrest, and dysfunction of cervical sympathetic system. Non-hypothermic J wave is an infrequent electrocardiographic manifestation of subarachnoid hemorrhage. We describe a clinical case of non-hypothermic J wave in a patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage.