title: Superior vena cava syndrome: do not miss the Ariadne's thread.
abstract: A central venous catheter tip located too high into the superior vena cava (SVC) is known to be a strong risk factor for central venous thrombosis and subsequent SVC syndrome. We report herein the usefulness of catheterizing the implanted port catheter lumen as a salvage procedure to circumvent a complete SVC occlusion in a breast cancer patient. Because the standard central vein catheterization attempt is often unsuccessful, the port catheter should always be considered as the Ariadne's thread and used as an attempt for catheterization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hôpital Ambroise PARE (APHP), Boulogne Billancourt, France.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Hajjam
authors.forename: Pierre Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Marcy
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lacout
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thariat
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lacombe
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000925:Anticoagulants; D004232:Diuretics