title: Superior vena cava stenosis after orthotopic heart transplantation: complication of an alternative surgical technique.
abstract: Superior vena cava stenosis presented as a postoperative complication of orthotopic heart transplantation in a patient in whom a new surgical technique was used. This alternative technique consists of total excision of the recipient's atria, with donor heart implantation performed using bicaval and pulmonary venous anastomoses. This rare complication required surgical repair 1 month after transplantation. The patient remains well on long-term follow-up. The pathogenesis, surgical management and modifications of the alternative technique to prevent this potentially serious complication are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles 90048, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blanche
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Czer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valenza
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aleksic
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trento
mesh_terms: D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology