Temporary vena cava filters in the prevention of pulmonary embolism during total hip arthroplasty

Thromboembolism constitutes one of the most dangerous complications during the immediate postoperative period of prosthetic surgery. Pharmacological prophylaxis and mechanical vascular compression are not always sufficient to protect from this surgical complication. In patients at greatest risk for thromboembolism, often with a positive history for pulmonary embolism, temporary vena cava filters may be used to reduce the incidence of vascular and pulmonary complications. However useful, these filters cannot be routinely used in orthopedic surgery. We present our results with the use of Filcard RFO2 vena cava filters in an open, randomized study of 30 patients. Received: 5 November 2001/Accepted: 30 November 2001     

Transjugular percutaneous inoue balloon mitral commissurotomy in a patient with inferior vena cava obstruction after liver transplantation.

Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy was performed successfully via the transjugular approach in a patient with severe rheumatic mitral stenosis and obstruction of the inferior vena cava due to prior liver transplantation. This case demonstrates the advantage of the jugular approach in patients with difficult anatomy.     

Persistent left superior vena cava draining to left atrium with normal coronary sinus

In embryology, a persistent connection of the left superior vena cava to the left atrium rarely coexists with a coronary sinus. We herein report an unusual case of persistent left superior vena cava terminating in a left atrium with normal coronary sinus, which was revealed at the time of permanent pacemaker implantation after a second operation for recurrent left atrioventricular valve regurgitation. Because this anomaly had gone undiagnosed at the first operation, we were unable to diagnose it prior to the second operation, because the preoperative coronary angiogram clearly demonstrated a coronary sinus that was not dilated. We would have repaired the anomaly using a patch or other procedure had it been diagnosed before the second operation in order to prevent cyanosis or brain complications secondary to right-to-left shunting. One should always be on guard for this rare condition.     

MRI visualization of the aortic nipple

The aortic nipple, a small “pseudotumor” adjacent to the aortic arch, is the left superior intercostal vein. In our series of 40 patients it was demonstrated in six; all had a right upper thoracic mass and four had a superior vena caval syndrome. Coronal magnetic resonance, images (MRI) of the thorax were superior to all other imaging methods in demonstrating the nipple. It is concluded that in patients with masses in the right upper chest, coronal MR chest examinations are valuable in demonstrating an aortic nipple, a sign of impending present superior vena caval or innominate, vein obstruction.     

Die verwendung der autologen vena femoralis bei vena-cava-superior-thrombose

We report on a 52-year old male patient who underwent implantation of an insulin pump because he had diabetes and in whom superior vena cava syndrome developed as a long-term complication. After unsuccessful lysis therapy superficial femoral vein was implanted to form a bypass from the internal jugular vein to the right atrium. The postoperative course was uneventful from the aspects of both the bypass and the leg after explantation of the superficial femoral vein. The bypass is still patent 7 months after the operation, and the patient has no symptoms. Autogenous superficial femoral vein can be used successfully in the reconstruction of large venous vessels. It should be the graft of choice for young patients with benign diseases. We compare our result and those obtained with different substitutes described in the literature that have been used for reconstruction in superior vena cava syndrome.

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Die verwendung der autologen vena femoralis bei vena-cava-superior-thromboseFallbericht mit literaturübersicht

Zusammenfassung Bei einem 52jährigen, männlichen Patienten trat nach Implantation einer Insulinpumpe als Spätkomplikation eine Thrombose der Vena cava superior auf. Nach erfolgloser Lysetherapie wurde ein Venajugularis-rechtsatrialer-Venenbypass mit autologer Vena femoralis durchgeführt. Der postoperative Heilungsverlauf war sowohl von Seiten des gefäßrekonstruktiven Eingriffs, als auch von Seiten der Venenentnahmestelle komplikationslos. Der Bypass ist 7 Monate postoperativ offen und der Patient beschwerdefrei. Die autologe Vena femoralis eignet sich zur Rekonstruktion großer venöser Gefäße ausgezeichnet. Sie sollte v. a. bei benignen Prozessen und jüngeren Patienten als autologes Bypassmaterial dem Kunststoff vorgezogen werden. Das Ergebnis wird mit verschiedenen Gefäßsubstituten, die bei Verschluß der oberen Hohlvene verwendet werden, verglichen.

     

人心和山羊心脏上、下腔静脉肌袖大体解剖

目的:观测人和山羊上、下腔静脉肌袖结构特点,为治疗局灶性心房颤动积累解剖学资料。方法:采用大体解剖方法观测人心(20例)和羊心(40例)的上、下腔静脉及其表面的心肌纤维。结果:人心上腔静脉肌袖的长和宽分别为(1.91±0.39)cm、(2.41±0.26)cm,下腔静脉肌袖的长和宽分别为(1.32±0.32)cm,(3.06±0.52)cm;羊心上(前)腔静脉肌袖的长和宽分别为(1.41±1.00)cm、(1.05±0.26)cm,下(后)腔静脉肌袖的长和宽分别为(0.81±0.48)cm,(1.03±0.28)cm。人和羊心脏的上腔静脉肌袖出现率均为100%;下腔静脉肌袖的出现率分别为88.89%和98%。肌纤维多数来源于右心房前后壁,也有来自于左心房或左右心房的。结论:①上腔静脉肌袖是人和羊普遍存在的解剖结构,人的下腔静脉肌袖出现率明显低于羊,可能是上腔静脉肌袖引起局灶性心房颤动多于下腔静脉肌袖的解剖学基础。②上腔静脉肌袖是构成左右房的又一重要通路。     

Ectopic cervico-mediastinal thymoma confirmed by flow cytometric analysis of tumor-derived lymphocytes

Ectopic cervical or cervico-mediastinal thymomas are very rare and most of them are asymptomatic, except for the presence of a cervical mass. We present the case of a 71-year-old man with an ectopic cervico-mediastinal thymoma threatening superior vena cava syndrome. He had a slight headache and presented with venous dilatation on the chest wall. A computed tomographic scan and magnetic resonance, imaging of the chest demonstrated a mass extending from the right neck to the hilum, that indented the trachea and compressed and displaced the brachiocephalic veins anteriorly. Under a right hemicollar incision and median sternotomy, the mass was resected en bloc together with the thymus. The resected specimen was an encapsulated mass measuring 11×7×4 cm. The pathological diagnosis was type AB, non-invasive thymoma, confirmed by 3-color flow, cytometry of tumor-derived lymphocytes. Flow cytometry using biopsy material may contribute to the preoperative diagnosis of ectopic thymoma.     

Superior vena cava syndrome and syncope in an implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipient.

We describe the case of a recipient of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator with multiple syncopal episodes due both to superior vena cava obstruction and electrical instability. These complications occurred in the presence of two transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads. The patient has been managed conservatively with anticoagulants and new antiarrhythmic drugs with improvement in both his clinical problems.     

Spontaneous migration of an inferior vena cava filter resulting in cardiac tamponade and percutaneous filter retrieval.

Thromboembolic disease accounts for thousands of hospitalizations every year in the US. Its primary management consists of anticoagulation. However, in certain instances this may be contraindicated or not sufficient. Mechanic occlusion of the inferior vena cava (IVC) becomes then a viable alternative. In this case a 35-year-old man presented with a saddle pulmonary embolus but was unable to be anticoagulated due to intestinal bleed. A removable IVC filter was then placed. The filter spontaneously migrated into the right atrium causing severe tricuspid regurgitation, perforation of the atrial wall, and cardiac tamponade. The device was successfully retrieved percutaneously and the patient discharged from the hospital in stable condition. This case illustrates the potentially lethal complications associated with the use of IVC filters, as well as the possibility to percutaneously recover them from within the right atrium.