# Inferior Vena Cava Atresia: A Rare Cause of Recurrent Deep Venous Thrombosis and Infected Venous Ulcers

## TL;DR

A rare condition called inferior vena cava atresia can cause repeated blood clots and infected leg ulcers, as shown in a case of a 37-year-old man.

## Contribution

This case report highlights IVC atresia as a rare but important cause of recurrent DVT and infected ulcers in young adults.

## Key findings

- IVC atresia can lead to chronic venous stasis and recurrent DVT in young adults.
- Diagnosis of IVC atresia is often delayed, as seen in the case where it was incidentally found via CT imaging.
- Management of DVT in IVC atresia relies on general anticoagulation guidelines due to lack of specific protocols.

## Abstract

Inferior vena cava (IVC) atresia is a rare vascular anomaly and may lead to recurrent deep venous thrombosis (DVT), especially in young adults. It leads to venous stasis due to insufficient drainage from the lower extremities, which in turn contributes to the formation of venous ulcers. Imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging may aid in diagnosis. There are no specific guidelines regarding anticoagulation for DVTs in these patients, so general principles of management are usually followed. Surgical options are less studied due to the low incidence of the condition and are, therefore, less likely to be advised. In this report, we present a case of a 37-year-old male patient presenting with recurrent DVTs and infected venous ulcers with a delayed incidental diagnosis of IVC atresia on CT imaging.