Superior Vena Cava (SVC) syndrome is an uncommon but known complication of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) and pacemaker lead placement. In general 0.2 to 3% of all implants are associated with symptomatic SVC stenosis. Stent placement is a viable option for benign SVC syndrome in the absence of indwelling pacing leads. The risk of perforation and lead fracture increases when large...

Introduction Precise anatomical knowledge of the great vessels of the neck and thorax and their variations is essential for safe anesthesia, intensive care practice, placement of central venous catheters, pacemaker implantation using the transvenous approach, etc. Occurrence of persistent left superior vena cava (SVC) with absent right SVC are venous system variations that could impede such pro...

Obstruction of blood flow in the superior vena cava (SVC) results in symptoms and signs of SVC syndrome. SVC obstruction can be caused either by invasion or external compression of the SVC by contagious pathologic processes involving the right lung, lymph nodes, and other mediastinal structures, or by thrombosis of blood within the SVC. Occasionally, both mechanisms co-exist. We hereby report a...

BACKGROUND The superior vena cava (SVC) has cardiac musculature extending from the right atrium. However, no previous study in humans has given details regarding the ectopic foci that initiate paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), which may originate from the SVC. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 130 patients with frequent attacks of PAF initiated by ectopic beats were included. Eight patients ...

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is not an uncommon occurrence in patients with malignancy and it is often described as a medical emergency. In majority of the cases, SVC syndrome occurs due to mechanical obstruction of the SVC by extraluminal compression with primary intrathoracic malignancies. However, intraluminal obstruction due to thrombosis can also produce symptoms and signs of SVC synd...

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is not an uncommon occurrence in patients with malignancy and it is often described as a medical emergency. In majority of the cases, SVC syndrome occurs due to mechanical obstruction of the SVC by extraluminal compression with primary intrathoracic malignancies. However, intraluminal obstruction due to thrombosis can also produce symptoms and signs of SVC synd...

Herein, we report two extremely rare cases of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) with extended tumor thrombus or mediastinum lymph node metastasis (LNM) involving the superior vena cava (SVC), causing SVC syndrome. Both of these patients were successfully treated with radical resection and reconstruction of the SVC using autologous tissue instead of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTF...

The superior vena cava (SVC) is known to be a potential source of focal atrial tachycardias. Not uncommonly these tachycardias trigger atrial fibrillation or flutter. Focal ablation is safe and effective in eliminating arrhythmogenic foci within the SVC. We present the case of a patient with focal atrial tachycardia arising from the SVC. During presumably focal ablation inadvertent electrical i...

Bilateral absence of the superior vena cava (SVC) is a very rarely detected, mainly asymptomatic congenital vascular anomaly. Though usually innocent, this anomaly may complicate cardiothoracic surgery and certain procedures like central venous catheter insertion. This SVC anomaly is poorly known, and we assume that its incidence in the general population may be higher than detected. In this pa...

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome refers to a medical emergency resulting from compression of the SVC. It requires early diagnosis and treatment, and is usually caused by malignant tumors; rarely, mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis can cause SVC syndrome. Here, we present a case study of an immunocompetent 61-year-old woman who presented with acute onset SVC syndrome and was diagnosed with t...