title: Surgical Treatment of Benign Superior Vena Cava Syndrome.
abstract: The obstruction of blood flow through the superior vena cava (SVC) into the right atrium may present as a severe clinical syndrome. One of the benign causes of SVC obstruction is the long-term use of indwelling catheters and wires, increasing the chances of SVC thrombosis. The treatment of the benign SVC syndrome is focused on achieving long-term durability and patency of the superior venocaval system and normal life expectancy. We report the successful surgical management of a patient with severe symptomatic SVC syndrome and emphasize technical details that might be of value in treating this challenging pathologic condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky.
authors.forename: Adam N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Protos
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky.
authors.forename: Jaimin R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky. Electronic address: mark.slaughter@louiville.edu.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Slaughter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000379:methods*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D056346:Sternotomy / Q000379:methods; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000502:physiology*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*