title: Superior vena cava syndrome after open heart surgery.
abstract: Superior vena cava syndrome is an uncommon complication of open heart surgery. While both cardiac tamponade and superior vena cava syndrome may present as elevated central venous pressure accompanied by decreased mean arterial pressure and cardiac output, the presence of upper body cyanosis is unusual with tamponade. We report the diagnosis and successful emergency treatment of a patient with acute superior vena cava syndrome and dyspnea apparently caused by a pericardial hematoma developing after aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Maggiano
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Makos
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Golding
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001021:Aortic Valve; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000150:complications; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006406:Hematoma / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*