Anomalous inferior vena cava drainage to the left atrium with successful staged repair in a 32-year-old woman with arthritis.

This report describes a case involving anomalous drainage of inferior vena cava (IVC) to the left atrium diagnosed when the patient was 32 years old. The tricuspid valve and the right ventricle were small. Successful surgical repair was performed, with significant improvement of the patient's clinical status. The use of exercise testing with pulse oxymetry monitoring aided in the decision of timing for closure of the iatrogenically created atrial septal defect.