Doppler superior vena cava flow evolution and respiratory variation in superior vena cava syndrome

BACKGROUND: Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is a clinical expression of obstruction of blood flow through the superior vena cava. The patterns of the Doppler flow changes of superior vena cava (SVC), especially the respiratory effects on them have not yet been fully elucidated. This study was to examine SVC Doppler flow patterns and the respiratory effects on them in healthy subjects and patients with SVCS. METHODS: The SVC Doppler flow patterns of 18 normal human subjects and 22 patients with SVCS were analyzed at initial diagnosis and were followed up every 2 months for at least 11 months. RESULTS: Among the 22 patients, 5 patients with the tumor near the right atrium oppressing the inferior segment of the SVC had clear VR- and AR-waves, while in the other 17 patients the VR- and AR-waves disappeared or their outlines were vague. The respiratory variations of the S- and D-waves as a percentage change in inspiration compared to expiration in patient group were much lower than those in control group (S-wave: 1.67 +/- 3.32% vs. 15.65 +/- 16.15%, P = 0.0003; D-wave: 1.80 +/- 1.12% vs. 23.55 +/- 37%, P = 0.0087), which gradually became larger with treatment and showed no significant difference with those in control group after 7 months. CONCLUSIONS: The Doppler flows of the patients with SVCS correlate well with the images of CT scan of them. The respiratory variation of the S- and D-velocities could be used to evaluate the severity of SVC obstruction and its therapeutic effect.     

电视纵隔镜检查在上腔静脉综合征病因诊断中的应用

目的探讨电视纵隔镜检查在上腔静脉综合征病因诊断中的应用价值。方法对13例上腔静脉综合征患者,经颈部行电视纵隔镜检查,其中4例联合应用超声检查。结果13例均成功取到活检组织,病理检查证实纵隔小细胞未分化癌或神经内分泌癌8例,淋巴瘤3例,胸腺瘤2例。平均检查时间为35min,无手术并发症及死亡者。结论通过电视纵隔镜检查可对上腔静脉综合征的病因作出准确诊断．该检查安全可行。     

为左上腔静脉永存合并右上腔静脉缺如患者植入起搏导线

目的 对左上腔静脉永存合并右上腔静脉缺如患者的心室起搏导线植入方法作初步探讨,方法 为3例病态窦房结综合征,2例三度房室阻滞患者植入VVI起搏系统,导线经左上腔静脉、冠状静脉窦、右心房、三尖瓣口而固定于右心室心尖部（4例）或至心大静脉远段（1例）,靠近心外膜左缘。结果 5例患者的导线均成功放置分别随访3个月-7年,起搏功能良好。结论 对左上腔静脉存伴右上腔静脉缺如患者植入心脏起搏系统,通过适当地操作,一般可将导线定侠于右心室心尖部;而经冠状静脉窦作左心室心外膜起搏亦是可以选择的。     

Nonmalignant superior vena cava syndrome: pathophysiology and management.

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome occurs following obstruction either from external compression or internal thrombosis or scarring. In the past, treatment was limited to medical therapy or surgical bypass but now percutaneous revascularization presents a viable therapeutic option. We present our experience in the percutaneous therapy of patients with nonmalignant SVC syndrome and review the condition with regard to its pathophysiology and management.     

Single center experience with percutaneous endovascular repair of superior vena cava syndrome

Objectives : To demonstrate short‐term effectiveness and long‐term efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with or without adjunctive therapy in treatment of superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). Background : Recently, PTA with or without adjunctive therapy has evolved as first‐line therapy for SVCS. Despite growing evidence for PTA with or without adjunctive therapy, there are little data reflecting its short‐ and long‐term outcomes. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed 14 consecutive patients undergoing PTA with or without adjunctive therapy for SVCS, between July 2001 and September 2009. Results : A total of 14 patients (nine women; mean age, 49 ± 15 years) with SVCS underwent attempted PTA with or without adjunctive therapy. Causes of SVCS were indwelling catheters or pacemaker wires (n = 5), idiopathic (n = 5), thoracic outlet syndrome (n = 2), and cancer‐related thrombosis (n = 2). Obstruction of the SVC involved inflow branches in 86% of patients (n = 12). PTA with or without adjunctive therapy was attempted in all 14 patients and was angiographically successful in 93% (n = 13). PTA and stenting was performed in eight (57%) patients; three (21%) patients had PTA with thrombectomy/thrombolysis; one (7%) patient had PTA alone; and one (7%) patient had thrombectomy/thrombolysis alone. Symptom relief was seen in 86% (n = 12), and initial patency was 90%. There were no procedural complications. Mean follow‐up was 12 months, and no deaths were reported. In the 11 (79%) patients with follow‐up imaging, nine (82%) patients showed patency and two (18%) had residual symptoms, with one patient undergoing surgery. Conclusions : PTA with adjunctive endovascular stent therapy for SVCS is safe and effective at giving both rapid and sustained symptom relief. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Bilateral absence of the superior vena cava presenting with superior vena cava syndrome: A case report

Bilateral absence of the superior vena cava (SVC) is a very rare congenital vascular anomaly that is mainly asymptomatic. In this report, we describe an adult male patient with bilateral absence of the SVC presenting with SVC syndrome. Blood from the upper body returned to the right atrium via the superficial thoracoepigastric veins, the great saphenous veins, the common femoral veins, and the inferior vena cava.     

支架置入术治疗上腔静脉综合征

目的　观察支架置入治疗上腔静脉综合征的临床疗效。方法　采用经皮静脉内支架置入术治疗 12例上腔静脉综合征患者 (男 11例 ,女 1例 ,平均年龄 5 1岁 )。结果　上腔静脉综合征缓解率为 92 % (11 12 ) ,无早期血管堵塞、支架移位等临床并发症 ,复发率 16 7%。结论　经皮静脉内支架置入术治疗上腔静脉综合征缓解率高 ,相对安全简单 ,并发症少。     

Congenital superior vena cava obstruction causing anasarca and respiratory failure in a newborn: successful transcatheter therapy.

Superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction is a rare entity in the pediatric population. It usually presents in association with either previous cardiac surgery or external compression from a neoplasm. We present the case of an infant born with congenital SVC obstruction and significant bilateral chylothorax and anasarca necessitating mechanical ventilation. Successful placement of an intravascular stent led to resolution of the chylothoraces with rapid clinical improvement.     

A primary pericardial undifferentiated sarcoma invading the right atrium and superior vena cava

Primary undifferentiated cardiac sarcomas are rare. The literature demonstrated that 81% of primary cardiac undifferentiated sarcomas arose in the left atrium. We reported herein a case of 56-year-old male farmer with a primary pericardial undifferentiated sarcoma, which was revealed only on echocardiography but not computed tomography. The tumor, which invaded the right atrium and superior vena cava, was not completely resected.     

Transvenous biopsy of mediastinal lymphoma invading the superior vena cava

Malignant disease in the mediastinum often presents as superior vena cava syndrome. In this emergency setting, expeditious tissue diagnosis is frequently of extreme importance. We report a case where tissue diagnosis was obtained by cardiac biopsy technique.     

永存左上腔静脉畸形患者行起搏器植入术研究分析

目的 对永存左上腔静脉畸形患者行起搏器植入方法及术后起搏功能作初步探讨.方法 分析13例永存左上腔静脉畸形植入心脏起搏器患者的导线植入路径、方法、导线植入位置、手术与X线曝光时间.结果 13例患者中5例经左锁骨下静脉径路,8例经右锁骨下径路植入导线,均获成功.右侧血管径路与左侧血管径路植入起搏器X线曝光及手术时间比较差异有统计学意义：（593.61±70.03）s对（948.45±69.06）s,P＜0.001及（53.49±5.11） min对（81.25±13.39） min,P＜0.001.随访4～89个月,起搏功能良好.结论 对左上腔静脉永存伴（或不伴）右上腔静脉缺如的患者植入起搏器,通过选择合适的路径、恰当的起搏模式、操作手术均能获得成功,近期和远期随访结果满意.     

Fibrosing TB mediastinitis presenting as a superior vena cava syndrome: a case presentation and echocardiogram correlate

A 49-year-old woman developed a chronic obstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC) as a complication of mediastinal tuberculosis. Echocardiography findings are presented along with the cavography. Symptoms disappeared after stenting the fibrosed SVC. Transesophageal echocardiogram findings led to the condition's final resolution.     

Case report of fatal complication of superior vena cava tear from balloon dilatation of iatrogenic superior vena cava narrowing

The treatment options for superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction depends on the cause and severity of SVC narrowing. It ranges from conservative medical management to more elaborate endovascular and surgical repair of obstruction. There has always been a concern regarding the possibility of rupture of SVC during balloon dilatation, if the obstruction is secondary to the surgical cause. Very few cases are reported in the literature. We report a case of fatal complication of SVC tear in a 2-month-old child who had iatrogenic SVC narrowing.     

Pacemaker implantation in patients with persistent left superior vena cava

Implantation of a permanent pacemaker system is most commonly performed by puncturing the left subclavian vein and introducing the pacemaker lead(s) through the superior caval vein to the right atrium and/or ventricle. Occasionally, a persistent left superior caval vein is encountered peroperatively, complicating the procedure. This article describes three such patients and provides a review of the literature regarding one of the most common anomalies of the thoracic vessels.     

Local thrombolytic therapy in superior vena cava syndrome secondary to malignant thymoma: A case report and literature review

Superior vena caval (SVC) obstruction due to malignant thymoma is exceedingly uncommon. We report a case of SVC syndrome where local intravenous thrombolytic therapy uncovered an SVC tumor mass not detected by high resolution computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scanning. Local intravenous thrombolytic therapy may be therapeutic in central venous obstruction and may facilitate the diagnosis of the underlying cause of obstruction.     

Sinus node injury as a complication of superior vena cava isolation

We report a case with SVC ectopy initiating AF; the origin and breakout point of the sinus node was inside the SVC, and the SVC ectopy was conducted through the same path as the sinus node activation to depolarize the right atrium. Injury to the sinus node happened after successful isolation of SVC.     

Superior vena cava syndrome as a complication of DDD pacemaker implantation

A 75-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of swelling of the face and neck 6 months after implantation of a two-chamber pacemaker. Digital subtraction angiography showed total occlusion of the superior vena cava vein and well-developed collateral channels. After thrombolytic therapy, facial swelling disappeared. Digital subtraction angiography performed after thrombolytic therapy revealed a recanalization of the superior vena cava.     

Ectopic tachycardia originating from the superior vena cava

We report a 65-year-old female patient with a 3-year history of symptomatic paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Electroanatomic and basket catheter mapping revealed a focal tachycardia originating in the superior vena cava (SVC), 5 cm above the SVC-right atrium (SVC-RA) junction. An area of fractionated potentials and slow conduction was found on the anterior wall of the SVC. A line of conduction block extending downwardly and obliquely from the anteroseptal aspect to anterolateral aspect of the SVC forcing the impulse to enter the RA via the posterior aspect of SVC-RA junction was observed. Entrainment attempts from multiple sites within the SVC failed to demonstrate reentry as a mechanism of arrhythmia. The ablation approach consisted of isolation of the arrhythmogenic area from the rest of the SVC.