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Case Reports
. 2019 May 5;11(5):e4602.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.4602.

Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Otorrhagia During Cardiac Surgery

Azfar K Niazi  1 , Alexandra S Reese  2 , Paul Minko  3 , Donal O'Donoghue  3 , Sabry Ayad  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Superior Vena Cava Syndrome and Otorrhagia During Cardiac Surgery

Azfar K Niazi et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Otorrhagia during cardiac surgery is rare. Otorrhagia combined with other signs of increased venous pressure in the upper body indicates the development of superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. In this case, ear bleeding, facial engorgement, and conjunctival edema were noticed. The SVC cannula was displaced, leading to SVC syndrome. Repositioning of the cannula led to rapid recovery of the symptoms and an uneventful postoperative course. Providers should be vigilant about signs of SVC obstruction. Transparent coverings and surgical shelves should be used for constant examination of the head and neck to immediately detect changes.

Keywords: coronary artery bypass graft; otorrhagia; superior vena cava syndrome.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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