Aneurysmal dilatation of the inferior vena cava

Aim: Inferior vena cava aneurysms (IVCA) are rare, unlike aortic aneurysms. The diagnosis and treatment is challenging. This study defines clinical and echocardiographic findings in a prospective cohort of sixteen patients with fusiform IVCA. Methods and Results: All patients referred to the Mayo Clinic between January 2006 and July 2009 for a clinically indicated echocardiogram (36,128 patients) were screened for a dilated IVC. Sixteen cases of fusiform IVCA were identified. Eleven cases (68.8%) were female. Mean age at presentation was 76 years (range 51–89). Eleven (68.8%) had structural heart disease: with right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in 45.5% (n = 5), moderate or greater tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was seen in 36.4% (n = 4) and RV enlargement was seen in 18.2% (n = 2). The most common clinical indication for echocardiography was dyspnea (25%; n = 4) and heart failure (18.8%; n = 3). The mean IVCA diameter was 4.1 cm (range 3.8–5 cm) and the mean length of the aneurysms was 6.2 cm (range 3.5–8.7 cm), with mean right ventricular systolic pressure of 55 mmHg (range 31–105 mmHg). Five (31.3%) had at least a moderate reduction in right ventricular ejection fraction and five (31.3%) had significant TR. Among these five patients with significant TR, severe TR was present in 80%; (n = 4) and moderate to severe TR was present in 20%; (n = 1). Conclusions: IVC aneurysms are more common in the elderly, and is associated with an increase in right sided heart pressures, significant TR, and RV dysfunction. (Echocardiography 2011;28:833‐842)     

Diagnosis and follow‐up of idiopathic dilatation of inferior vena cava

In the absence of cardiac pathology, the presence of a dilated inferior vena cava (IVC) is considered idiopathic. To date, this phenomenon has only been described in athletic individuals as an adaptation to chronically augmented venous return. This is the largest prospective cohort study, following ten individuals with idiopathic dilated IVC against an age‐matched control group with annual echocardiograms and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging for a median of 55 months. No significant difference was found between echocardiography and CMR measurements in IVC diameter assessment both at baseline and at follow‐up. Over the study period, there was no significant progression of the IVC in diameter as measured either by echocardiography or CMR. None of the patients suffered any cardiovascular events, and there were no hospitalizations. Our findings indicate the benign nature of this condition and provide reassurance with regard to future clinical implications.     

Incidental detection of inferior vena caval dissection by intraoperative high frequency vascular duplex ultrasonography

Inferior vena caval (IVC) dissection has been rarely reported. This could be due to less susceptibility of the venous structure to dissect or under recognition of this entity. We first report a case of IVC dissection detected by high frequency surface ultrasonography following tumor thrombectomy of adrenal cortical carcinoma. This report described the value of intraoperative surface echocardiography and reviewed previous literatures with regard to IVC dissection.     

An Unusual Cause of Acute Cardiogenic Shock in the Operating Room

A 51‐year‐old man with a renal carcinoma with inferior vena cava (IVC) invasion was referred to our hospital for the performance of a radical nephrectomy with IVC thrombus excision. To prevent embolism, an IVC filter was implanted the day before surgery below the suprahepatic veins. On nephrectomy completion, the clinical status of the patient started to deteriorate and an unsuccessful attempt was made to excise the IVC thrombus. The patient developed profound refractory hypotension without significant bleeding and worsening splanchnic stasis was noted. A transesophageal echocardiogram was immediately performed in the operating room, revealing a hemispheric mass protruding from the IVC ostium to the right atrium, completely blocking all venous return. Volume depletion was evident by low left and right atrial volumes and increased septum mobility. No other abnormalities were found that could explain the shock, namely ventricular dysfunction or valvular disease. Cardiac surgery consultation was immediately obtained, ultimately deciding to perform a median sternotomy with direct exploration of right atrium. Under cardiopulmonary bypass, a 6‐cm long thrombotic mass was identified, involving the IVC filter, blocking all lower body venous return; the removal of the mass reversed the shock. The patient had an uneventful recovery. Adverse outcomes associated with IVC filters are common. Our case highlights the importance of a team approach to rapid changes in hemodynamic status in the operating room, including the surgeon, the anesthesiologist, and the cardiologist. It also emphasizes the pivotal role of transesophageal echocardiogram in the clinical evaluation of severely unstable patients.     

Transcatheter closure of a large ASD from the femoral vein in a patient with Budd–Chiari syndrome

Anomalies of the inferior vena cava are rare in patients with isolated atrial septal defect (ASD). When present, they usually preclude successful transcatheter closure of the ASD using the femoral route. We report a case of a large secundum ASD in a 3‐year‐old child, who had a chronic Budd–Chiari syndrome incidentally detected on the cardiac catheterization table. We were able to successfully deploy the device from the femoral route itself using a collateral channel to reach the heart and then using the pulmonary vein deployment technique to successfully close the defect. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Balloon angioplasty for complete obstruction of inferior vena cava: Needle puncture followed by balloon dilatation

We report herein 2 cases with complete obstruction of the suprahepatic portion of the inferior vena cava successfully treated by balloon angioplasty after crossing the obstructing segment with the stiff end of the guidewire in 1 case and the Brockenbrough's trans-septal needle in the other. The gradients across the obstruction fell from 13 and 20 mm Hg to 3 and 4 mm Hg, respectively. Angioplasty resulted in dramatic clinical hemo-dynamic and angiographic improvement.     

Transesophageal echocardiographic examination of left-sided superior vena cava and azygos and hemiazygos veins

In the present study, we describe our experience in the delineation of the left-sided superior vena cava, azygos vein, and hemiazygos vein, using transesophageal echocardiography.     

Balloon dilatation of inferior vena cava obstruction in budd-chiari syndrome

Budd-Chiari syndrome is a well described entity which can easily be confused with congestive hepatomegaly. The syndrome usually is caused by thrombosis of the hepatic veins, however it also can be caused by congenital fibrous webs that occlude hepatic vessels in the inferior vena cava. It leads to an enlarged liver with ascites, peripheral edema, and portal hypertension.     

Elevated Right Ventricular End‐Diastolic Pressure by Doppler Echocardiography—A Case Report

Careful analysis of the right‐sided Doppler signals provides important data regarding right heart hemodynamics. Here, we illustrate the value of the combined analysis of flow across the hepatic vein, tricuspid valve, and pulmonary valve for the diagnosis of elevated right ventricular end‐diastolic pressure.     

Transesophageal Echocardiographic Findings in Primary Leiomyoma of Inferior Vena Cava

We describe for the first time the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography for the identification of a primary leiomyoma of the inferior vena cava, which originated near its junction with the right atrium. A portion of the tumor was initially visualized in the right atrium during a transthoracic echocardiographic study, but its attachment in the inferior vena cava was evident only by transesophageal echocardiography using the transgastric approach. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 10, November 1993)     

Mitral‐aortic intervalvular fibrosa pseudoaneurysm causing compression of superior vena cava and right atrium

The mitral‐aortic intervalvular fibrosa (MAIVF) is a fibrous, avascular region between the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve and noncoronary cusp of the aortic valve. This makes MAIVF vulnerable to injury and infection; thus pseudoaneurysm may develop. The pseudoaneurysm can cause compression to coronary arteries which causes angina or pulmonary artery resulting in pulmonary hypertension. We presented the pseudoaneurysm of MAIVF causing compression of superior vena cava and right atrium which was visualized by two‐ and three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography.     

自主呼吸试验前后下腔静脉变异度对呼吸衰竭合并心功能不全患者撤机失败的预测价值

目的评价自主呼吸试验(SBT)前后下腔静脉变异度(△DIVC)对呼吸衰竭合并心功能不全患者机械通气后撤机失败的预测价值。方法选取2016年11月至2018年2月在徐州市中心医院ICU进行机械通气的呼吸衰竭合并心功能不全患者120例。患者30 min SBT成功后拔管,48 h内不需要再次气管插管和无创呼吸机辅助为撤机成功组(n=62);30 min SBT失败或者SBT成功后拔管,但48 h内需要再次插管或无创呼吸机辅助为撤机失败组(n=58)。分别在SBT前和30 min后记录并比较2组患者的临床特征及△DIVC。采用SPSS 17.0软件统计分析。根据数据类型,组间比较采用独立样本t检验、Mann-Whitney U检验或χ~2检验。采用多因素logistic回归法分析影响撤机失败的独立危险因素。利用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线评估△DIVC对撤机失败的预测价值。结果 2组患者在慢性呼吸疾病、急性生理学和慢性健康状况评价Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ)评分、第1次插管到拔管的持续时间和血红蛋白水平方面比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。与撤机成功组比较,撤机失败组患者在SBT前及30 min后二氧化碳分压和N端脑钠肽前体显著升高,左室射血分数(LVEF)显著降低,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);在SBT后30 min,撤机失败组患者△DIVC较撤机成功组显著升高,差异亦有统计学意义(P0.05)。多变量logistic回归分析显示,LVEF(OR=1.204,95%CI 1.133～1.381;P=0.015)和SBT后30 min的△DIVC(OR=1.450,95%CI 1.102～2.026;P=0.009)是患者撤机失败的独立危险因素。SBT后30 min的△DIVC预测患者撤机失败的ROC曲线下面积为0.905,最佳截断点0.27,灵敏度为82.4%,特异度为94.4%。LVEF预测患者撤机失败的曲线下面积为0.806,最佳截断点为42.0%,灵敏度为54.5%,特异度为86.8%。结论 SBT 30 min后的△DIVC对于呼吸衰竭合并心功能不全患者撤机失败具有较高的预测价值。     

Hepatic encephalopathy due to a large intrahepatic communication between the portal vein and inferior vena cava

A 59 year old man with cirrhosis presented with encephalopathy and hyper-ammonaemia. T1 weighted magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a large void tubular structure connecting the right posterior portal vein branch and the inferior vena cava through the right hepatic lobe inferiorly, and cine-mode imaging showed a flow within this channel. Clearly in this patient a significant portion of the portal venous blood was being shunted into the inferior vena cava, causing encephalopathy. The exact origin of this channel is not known, but several possibilities are discussed. It is also predicted that similar previously unknown large intrahepatic shunts will be discovered increasingly with the availability of modern imaging techniques.     

Plain film identification of failure of interior vena caval-right atrial continuity

The identification of absence of continuity of the inferior vena cava (IVC) with the right atrium assumes major importance at the time of right heart catheterization. The appearance of the IVC in the lateral chest radiogram is diagnostically different from the normal when discontinuity is present and 2 radiographic patterns have been recognized: 1) total absence of the IVC shadow; 2) straightened and posteriorly directed IVC shadow contrasting sharply with the anteriorly directed normally continuous IVC. This latter sign is considered reproducibly accurate in the identification of the IVC which fails to have continuity with the right atrium.