iatrogenic diversion of inferior vena cava into left atrium after surgery for a rare combination of congenital heart diseases

atrial septal defect (asd) is a common congenital anomaly that has low surgical mortality and morbidity. we report a very rare case of a low-lying asd, combined with the drainage of the inferior vena cava and the left superior vena cava into the left atrium. this combination was associated with an unroofed coronary sinus. we also describe an iatrogenic surgical diversion of the inferior vena cava into the left atrium with its complication. the patient presented with moderate cyanosis and was referred for elective asd repair. he underwent surgical repair of the asd after transthoracic echocardiography. early postoperative right-to-left shunting with cyanosis and hypoxia was associated with abdominal complications. surgical re-exploration revealed the diversion of the inferior vena cava into the left atrium, which was repaired with a pericardial patch. peptic ulcer perforation was repaired after abdominal laparotomy. the patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged home on the 17 th postoperative day. one-year follow-up revealed no recurrence of cyanosis or residual asd on echocardiography.