Wallstent endovascular prosthesis for the treatment of superior vena cava syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed the clinical outcome of self-expanding Wallstent endovascular prosthesis in the treatment of superior vena cava syndrome due to malignant tumors.


METHODS
Eleven patients with malignant superior vena cava syndrome were treated by percutaneous implantation of the self-expanding Wallstent endovascular prosthesis across the stricture site. Patency was defined by the absence of symptoms and signs of superior vena cava syndrome.


RESULTS
Ten of the 11 experienced complete symptomatic relief within 3 days of stent implantation. The remaining 1 did not benefit, and required a second procedure, dying of heart failure 5 days after stent implantation. Ten patients remain symptomatically free of superior vena cava syndrome to date or until death in follow-up lasting 17 to 227 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Implantation of the self-expanding Wallstent endovascular prosthesis for malignant superior vena cava syndrome provides rapid symptomatic relief and improves the patient's quality of life.
Sasano
S
S
Department of Surgery I, Tokyo Women's Medical University, 8-1 Kawada-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8666, Japan.
Onuki
T
T
Mae
M
M
Oyama
K
K
Sakuraba
M
M
Nitta
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D015607:Stents; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin