Segmental replacement of superior vena cava with spiral vein graft

Superior Vena Cava Reconstruction Using An Iliocaval Allograft

Successful replacements of the superior vena cava (SVC) using autogenous saphenous or superficial femoral vein or prosthetic grafts have been previously performed, but the use of allograft for treatment of SVC syndrome has not been reported. The patient treated by the authors was a forty-one-year-old woman who presented with severe venous congestion of the head and neck caused by fibrosing mediastinitis. In addition, she had sclerosing cholangitis and chronic liver failure. To treat her SVC syndrome and provide access for fluid and blood transfusion and for possible venovenous bypass, SVC reconstruction was performed concomitant to orthotopic liver transplantation. A left innominate vein-right atrial bypass was inserted using an iliocaval allograft. The patient had an uncomplicated recovery, and at six months after surgery her SVC allograft is widely patent and her transplanted liver is functioning well. The venous allograft is an excellent conduit for those patients who are receiving immunosuppression therapy to avoid rejection of a transplanted organ.

Imaging sarcomas of the great vessels and heart

Primary sarcomas of the aorta, pulmonary artery, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, and the heart are rare neoplasms. Aortic sarcomas are broadly categorized as either primarily luminal or primarily mural, with luminal sarcomas more likely to be misdiagnosed as thrombus. Pulmonary artery sarcomas are often mistaken for pulmonary embolism both clinically and at imaging. Vena caval sarcomas appear as intraluminal or extraluminal masses connecting to or filling the veins. The most common are leiomyosarcomas of the inferior vena cava. Primary sarcomas of the heart are rare and usually appear as heterogeneous aggressive masses.

Tratamento da síndrome da veia cava superior

A veia cava superior é formada pela união das duas veias inominadas, direita e esquerda, e localiza-se no mediastino médio, à direita da artéria aorta e anteriormente à traquéia. A síndrome da veia cava superior representa um conjunto de sinais (dilatação das veias do pescoço, pletora facial, edema de membros superiores, cianose) e sintomas (cefaléia, dispnéia, tosse, edema de membro superior, ortopnéia e disfagia) decorrentes da obstrução do fluxo sanguíneo através da veia cava superior em direção ao átrio direito. A obstrução pode ser causada por compressão extrínseca, invasão tumoral, trombose ou por dificuldade do retorno venoso ao coração secundária a doenças intra-atriais ou intraluminais. Aproximadamente 73% a 97% dos casos de síndrome da veia cava superior ocorrem durante a evolução de processos malignos intratorácicos. A maioria dos pacientes com a síndrome secundária a neoplasias malignas é tratada sem necessidade de cirurgia, através de radioterapia ou quimioterapia, ou através da colocação de stents endoluminais. Quando a síndrome é de etiologia benigna, o tratamento é feito através de medidas clínicas (anticoagulação, elevação da cabeça, etc.) ou, em casos refratários, através de angioplastia, colocação de stents endoluminais e cirurgia.

Superior vena cava obstruction: bypass using spiral vein graft

BACKGROUND

Previous midterm experience with the composite spiral saphenous vein graft to bypass the obstructed superior vena cava (SVC) has been favorable. This study looks at the long-term results in patients followed for up to 23 years.

METHODS

Sixteen patients aged 17 to 68 years had operation for obstruction of the SVC with SVC syndrome caused by benign disease. Eleven patients had fibrosing mediastinitis with or without caseous necrosis, 4 had thrombosis caused by a catheter or a pacemaker electrode, and 1 had spontaneous thrombosis. All operations were performed using a composite spiral vein graft constructed from the patient's own saphenous vein. Graft diameter ranged from 9.5 to 15.0 mm. Ten grafts were from the left innominate vein, and six grafts were from the right or left internal jugular vein. The grafts were placed to the right atrial appendage in all patients except 1. Follow-up extends from 1 month to 23 years 8 months (mean follow-up, 10.9 years).

RESULTS

Fourteen of 16 grafts remain patent for up to 23 years, and all patients but 1 are free from SVC syndrome. One patient required revision of the graft for thrombosis 4 days after operation. Two grafts closed during the first year after operation: one because of recurrence of spontaneous venous thrombosis and the other because of aggressive fibrosing mediastinitis requiring operation for graft revision three times over a 12-year period prior to death.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that a spiral vein bypass graft for treatment of the obstructed SVC relieves SVC syndrome and has excellent long-term patency.

Leiomyosarcoma of the superior vena cava and azygos vein

A 40-year-old woman presented with facial swelling and pressure sensation of the ears and sinuses. Chest roentgenography revealed a right paratracheal mass, which was confirmed by a venogram, and transjugular biopsy showed low-grade leiomyosarcoma. The superior vena cava was resected and reconstructed using a spiral vein graft. Pathologic evaluation revealed a low-grade leiomyosarcoma arising from both the superior vena cava and the azygos vein with clear margins.

Surgical implications of sclerosing mediastinitis. A report of six cases and review of the literature

Sclerosing mediastinitis is an uncommon disease associated with a multiplicity of clinical syndromes. The cause of this disorder is probably an abnormal fibroproliferative response to an inflammatory stimulus, most commonly a granulomatous infection secondary to Histoplasma capsulatum. The pathophysiology of this disease is predicated on the encasement of mediastinal vital organ structures within a dense fibrotic mass. This mass appears to emanate from an invasive chronic inflammatory process causing erosion as well as external compression of these structures. The following case reports illustrate the diversity of this disease entity, representing a patient population from the Ohio River Valley, endemic for histoplasmosis. The purpose of this report is to elucidate the various clinical manifestations of sclerosing mediastinitis and to correlate the pathologic process with a rational approach to treatment.

Superior vena cava bypass: use of the azygos vein

Unexpected involvement of the superior vena cava with dense inflammatory and fibrous tissue was encountered during right pneumonectomy for a T3 N0 M0 squamous cell carcinoma. After expeditiously completing the lung resection, the azygos vein was utilized for a successful superior vena cava bypass.

Magnetic resonance imaging of spiral vein graft bypass of superior vena cava in fibrosing mediastinitis

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used for postoperative evaluation of spiral vein grafts in three patients with fibrosing mediastinitis who had undergone bypass of the superior vena cava (SVC) for SVC syndrome. The MRI images, obtained without ECG triggering, were compared retrospectively with postoperative bilateral arm venograms. Patent grafts were identified by MRI in all patients. Significant stenoses at innominate vein-spiral vein graft anastomoses in two patients were better demonstrated by venography than by MRI. MRI shows promise as a non-invasive technique for postoperative evaluation of spiral vein bypass grafts.