title: Subclavian vein stenosis, permanent cardiac pacemakers and the haemodialysed patient.
abstract: Two cases of subclavian vein stenosis secondary to permanent cardiac pacemakers are presented. Both stenoses were asymptomatic until arteriovenous fistulae/grafts were constructed in order to initiate haemodialysis. One patient experienced severe oedema of the arm which necessitated surgical closure of the graft. A literature review into major venous stenosis and cardiac pacemakers reveals an asymptomatic, but evidently underestimated, problem. As more elderly patients will be accepted onto haemodialysis programmes, this above-mentioned problem may become more common. Therapeutic answers as to haemodialysis access are discussed in these patients with permanent pacemakers who need haemodialysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Hasharon Hospital, Petah-Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Korzets
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chagnac
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zevin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013350:Subclavian Vein / Q000473:pathology*