title: [Interventional treatment of the acute and subacute vena cava superior syndrome].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Superior vena cava syndrome is defined as the lack of central venous inflow through the superior vena cava and can present a life-threatening situation. The acute situation is characterized by dyspnea and requires a fast and effective treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using two case reports, endovascular stent therapy for the treatment of acute and subacute superior vena cava syndrome is explained and discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first case, we introduce a patient with acute dyspnea due to decompensation of a chronic thrombosis of the superior vena cava. The second case displayed the same acute symptoms consisting of acute dyspnea and upper venous congestion due to a tumor-related compression of the superior vena cava. In both cases, the acute situation of superior vena cava syndrome was successfully treated by stent implantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endovascular treatment of superior vena cava syndrome is an effective option with a high technical success rate.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Diagnostische Radiologie und Neuroradiologie, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt Universität Greifswald.
authors.forename: J-P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kühn
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mensel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ewert
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bollmann
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015607:Stents; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome