Percutaneous stenting of superior vena cava syndrome: treatment outcome in patients with benign and malignant etiology

Symptomatic obstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC) can be caused by either intrathoracic malignancy or nonmalignant etiology resulting in superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of percutaneous stenting of SVCS in patients with malignant and benign disease. During a 9-year period, 56 patients with SVCS underwent percutaneous stenting placement. Among them, malignant and benign disease was responsible for 40 patients (71%) and 16 patients (29%), respectively. The Wallstent was the most commonly used stent and was used in 45 patients (80%), whereas the Palmaz stent was used in 6 patients (11%). In 38 patients (68%), a single stent was deployed to treat an SVC lesion. In contrast, bilateral kissing stents were deployed in 9 patients (16%), which extended from bilateral brachiocephalic veins to the proximal SVC. Technical success was achieved in all patients while symptomatic improvement was noted in 54 patients (96%). No procedural complications occurred in this series. Primary patency in malignant and benign cases at 1 year was 64% and 76%, respectively. Overall symptom-free survival ranged from 1 to 34 months. Our study showed that endovascular treatment with percutaneous stenting provides an effective treatment strategy in patients with SVCS caused by either malignant or benign disease.     

Benign superior vena cava syndrome: stenting is now the first line of treatment

BACKGROUND: Endovascular repair (EVR) is emerging as first-line treatment for patients with superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome of benign etiology, but data on its durability remain scarce. The aims of this study were to assess the efficacy and durability of EVR and compare results of EVR with open surgical reconstruction (OSR). METHODS: Data from 70 consecutive patients undergoing treatment for benign SVC syndrome between November 1983 and November 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: There were 30 males and 40 females (mean age, 41 years; range, 5-75 years). Etiology included indwelling catheters or pacemaker wires in 35 patients, mediastinal fibrosis in 31, idiopathic thrombosis in 2, hypercoagulable disorder in 1, and postsurgical thrombosis in 1. In 42 patients, OSR was done through a median sternotomy: repair was with spiral saphenous vein in 22, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) in 13, femoral vein grafts in 6, and human allograft in 1. Fifteen OSRs followed failed EVR interventions. EVR was attempted in 32 patients and was successful in 28 (88%): 19 had stenting, 14 had percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA), 2 had thrombolytic therapy with PTA, and 3 had stenting. All four technical failures subsequently underwent OSR. There were no early deaths in either group. Periprocedural morbidity was 19% after OSR and 4% in the EVR group. Six early surgical graft failures were successfully treated with surgical revision; one restenosis after EVR was restented. During a mean follow-up of 4.1 years (range, 0.1-17.5 years) after OSR, 11 patients underwent 18 secondary interventions. Mean follow-up after EVR was 2.2 years (range, 0.2-6.4 years), and nine patients underwent 21 secondary EVR interventions. Primary, assisted primary, and secondary patency rates of surgical bypass grafts were, respectively, 45%, 68%, and 75% at 3 and 5 years. Primary, assisted primary and secondary patency rates after EVR were 44%, 96%, and 96% at 3 years. Assisted primary patency was significantly higher in vein grafts than in ePTFE grafts (P = .05). Assisted primary and secondary patency was significantly higher in patients undergoing stenting compared with PTA (P = .02). At last follow-up, 93% of patients in both OSR and EVR groups had significant relief from symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: OSR of benign SVC syndrome is effective, with durable long-term relief from symptoms. EVR is less invasive but equally effective in the mid-term, albeit at the cost of multiple secondary interventions, and is an appropriate primary treatment for benign SVC syndrome. OSR remains an excellent choice for patients who are not suitable for EVR or in whom the EVR fails.     

Dialysis access-induced superior vena cava syndrome

Vascular thrombosis is a complication of dialysis access and thrombosis of the superior vena cava by indwelling dialysis catheters access can cause superior vena cava syndrome. We describe a case of superior vena cava syndrome resulting from a dialysis access catheter placed in the internal jugular vein. Although surgical intervention is often needed to treat dialysis access-related superior vena cava syndrome this patient required only conservative measures for resolution of the syndrome. In this paper we describe the presentation, diagnosis, and management of this case. A review of dialysis access thrombosis complications and treatment options is also presented.     

Stent placement in superior vena cava syndrome

BACKGROUND: Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is often seen in the natural history of malignant thoracic diseases. SVCS is characterized by unpleasant symptoms that usually lead to death. The purpose of our study is to show the efficiency of percutaneous stenting in the superior vena cava for relieving SVCS and the possibility of repeated stenting after recurrence. METHODS: Twenty patients with SVCS caused by malignant diseases who had one or more stents placed in the superior vena cava or its main tributaries were evaluated. RESULTS: Out of 20 patients, 1 died of myocardial infarction 24 hours after the procedure without any signs of pulmonary embolus, hemorrhage, or malposition of the stent. SVCS was successfully controlled in 94% of patients until death or completion of the study. In 3 patients the procedure was repeated (3 to 20 weeks later) because of the recurrence of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous venous stent placement in the superior vena cava is a simple and effective technique to relieve rapid SVCS caused by malignancies. When recurrence occurs, repeated stenting can be performed successfully.     

Surgical repair of superior vena cava syndrome

We present the case of a 53-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer, chemotherapy, and a long-term central venous access catheter, who presented with acute, severe superior vena cava syndrome. Angiography showed fibrous obstruction of the superior vena cava with thrombosis of the innominate, both axillary subclavian and internal jugular veins. Surgical repair consisted of thrombectomy of all the involved vessels and patch repair of superior vena cava and innominate vein. The patient had an uneventful recovery and remains asymptomatic 12 months after the procedure.     

Intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia of superior vena cava: a rare cause of the superior vena cava syndrome.

The superior vena cava syndrome associated with an intraluminal vascular proliferative lesion is extremely rare. A case of intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia of the superior vena cava causing obstructive symptoms is reported that was successfully managed by surgical excision.     

Operative treatment of refractory superior vena cava syndrome

Left sapheno-axillary vein bypass is effective in relieving the signs and symptoms of superior vena cava obstruction. As the operation can be performed easily under local anesthesia, it should probably be used more often than indicated by a review of the literature. The authors present a patient with bronchogenic carcinoma who experienced excellent results.     

A contemporary perspective on superior vena cava syndrome

The superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is usually associated with advanced malignancy and has a dismal prognosis. In order to analyze the impact of newer diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, we retrospectively examined the last 45 consecutive cases of SVC syndrome treated over a 12-year period. The underlying causes were advanced lung cancer (57%), mediastinal tumors (20%), and metastatic solid malignancy (5%). Forty-two patients (93%) were treated with external beam radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy with a mean patients survival of 3 months; 11 of 42 patients (26%) were treated without histologic diagnosis. Symptoms of SVC obstruction resolved in 80% of patients who underwent radiotherapy, with a mean interval of 4 weeks. The most common cause of death was respiratory arrest. Of the three patients with benign disease, two underwent caval reconstruction with greater than 3-year patency and relief of symptoms. We conclude that (1) SVC syndrome portends a grim prognosis when associated with malignancy but usually responds to radiation or chemotherapy; (2) CT scan is the best available method to document the extent and location of involvement; and (3) patients with benign disease should be evaluated for caval reconstruction, which may produce rewarding long-term results.     

Intracaval paraganglioma causing superior vena cava syndrome.

We report a 46-year old female patient with progressive symptoms and signs of superior caval syndrome. At surgery, the caval vein with a benign intravascular paraganglioma was removed, and a venous interposition using a spiral vein graft was performed.     

Adequate venous autoplasty in severe superior vena cava syndrome

Eleven patients underwent plastic operations on the superior vena cava (SVC) in its severe occlusion. The SVC syndrome was caused by malignant tumors of the right lung and mediastinum in 9 patients, lymphogranulomatosis in one patient, and by chronic fibrous mediastinitis in another patient. The SVC and its main branches were replaced by a multisegmental graft (lineal or bifurcation) of autogenous vein formed by parallel stitching together of 3-5 longitudinally cut segments of the vena saphena magna. Venous drainage was adequate and the graft remained unobstructed for a long time due to the anatomical conformity of the graft to the SVC and the equal diameters of the joined vessels. The immediate and late-term (3 to 26 months) results of plastics with a multisegmental graft or autogenous vein were good.     

纵隔镜在上腔静脉阻塞综合征诊断中的应用

目的探讨纵隔镜在上腔静脉阻塞综合征（SVCOS）病因诊断中应用的可行性和价值。方法12例上腔静脉阻塞综合征病人，男9例，女3例；年龄16，71岁，平均45．2岁。行颈部纵隔镜检（CM）7例，胸骨旁纵隔镜检（PSM）5例。结果11例获得病理学诊断，阳性率91．7％。其中原发肺癌8例，淋巴瘤3例，未能明确诊断1例；所有病例手术经过均顺利，无并发症和死亡；1例淋巴瘤术后症状加重，化疗后缓解。结论纵隔镜检查对于SVCOS病例同样安全可靠，可作为其他方法不能确诊病例的可靠检查方法。