Central Venous Catheter-Associated Superior Vena Cava Syndrome

Abstract

Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is caused by any obstruction to the superior vena cava (SVC); the most common causes are malignancy and extrinsic compression. The use of medical devices, such as central venous catheters, poses an important risk factor, as they cause changes in the blood flow and in the vessel wall. This report describes a case of a 70-year-old male with an implantable central venous port, due to previous neoplastic disease, as the cause of the SVCS. Authors advise that the placement of medical devices ought to be carefully accessed and constantly revised to be removed when no longer needed to prevent avoidable complications.

Keywords: central venous catheter thrombosis; implantable venous port; superior vena cava syndrome; superior vena cava thrombosis; venous stenting.

Figure 1. Photograph of the patient upon admission, before undergoing revascularization treatment, showing redness and swelling of the face, neck, and hand, along with notorious chest collateral circulation.

Figure 2. Thoracic (A) and cervical (B) angio-CT images showing thrombi in the superior vena cava and left subclavian and right internal jugular veins, as well as a right jugular central venous catheter (red arrows).

Figure 3. Angiography images before (A) and after (B) angioplasty with venous stenting (red arrows).