title: Ultrasound detection of superior vena cava thrombus.
abstract: Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is most commonly the insidious result of decreased vascular flow through the SVC due to malignancy, spontaneous thrombus, infections, and iatrogenic etiologies. Clinical suspicion usually leads to computed tomography to confirm the diagnosis. However, when a patient in respiratory distress requires emergent airway management, travel outside the emergency department is not ideal. With the growing implementation of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), clinicians may make critical diagnoses rapidly and safely. We present a case of SVC syndrome due to extensive thrombosis of the deep venous system cephalad to the SVC diagnosed by POCUS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Um
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington.
authors.forename: Brooks
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Laselle
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging