Treatment of superior vena cava obstruction secondary to pacemaker wires with balloon venoplasty and insertion of metallic stents.
OBJECTIVE
Pacemaker wires can result in stenosis of the superior vena cava and other central veins. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of treating stenoses of the superior vena cava (SVC) and central veins with balloon venoplasty and metallic stent insertion in the presence of cardiac pacemaker wires.


RESULTS
Three patients were referred to the department after developing symptomatic SVC obstruction following implantation of a cardiac pacemaker several years earlier. They were examined with duplex ultrasound and venography, which revealed significant stenoses of the central veins. These patients subsequently underwent endovascular treatment which involved balloon dilation and stent insertion. The treatment was successful in all three patients, without any complications. Long-term patency of up to 4 years is recorded. No pacemaker function dysfunction was encountered.


CONCLUSIONS
SVC stenting is safe and effective in patients who develop the SVC obstruction after cardiac pacemaker insertion.
Department of Interventional Radiology, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
N
N
Teo
T
T
Sabharwal
E
E
Rowland
P
P
Curry
A
A
Adam
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods; D012449:Safety; D015607:Stents; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology