Endovascular stenting to treat obstruction of the superior vena cava

Abstract

This article discusses the use of image guided endovascular stenting to treat obstruction of the superior vena cava

Fig 1 Contrast enhanced computed tomography in October 2004 shows enlarged mediastinal nodes with significant focal narrowing of the superior vena cava (top; arrow). Contrast enhanced computed tomography, with reconstruction using maximum intensity projection in the sagittal plane, shows focal narrowing of the superior vena cava (bottom; arrow)

Fig 2 Digital subtraction venogram from a femoral vein approach shows tight focal stenosis of the mid superior vena cava (top; arrow). Digital subtraction venography after placement of a self expanding nitinol 14 mm stent, which was later dilated to 12 mm, shows good flow through the stent at the end of the procedure (bottom)

Fig 3 Contrast enhanced computed tomography in November 2007 (top). Three years after stent insertion, the patency of the stent is still good. Three dimensional reconstruction (maximum intensity projection) in the sagittal plane three years after stent insertion shows a widely patent stent (bottom)