PMID: 11905190Mar 22, 2002Paper

The superior vena cava syndrome as a manifestation of dissection of the ascending aorta

Medicinski pregled
M StajnicB Kovacević

Abstract

Most clinical manifestations of aortic dissection are due to complications of either ischemic origin or wall rupture of pleural, pericardial, peritoneal or mediastinal cavity. Compression of other blood vessels such as pulmonary artery or superior vena cava is possible, but rarely occurs. A 60 year-old patient was admitted to hospital due to severe cyanosis and edema of the face, neck and upper thorax. Ten years ago, due to aortic insufficiency, aortic valve replacement with mechanical prosthesis (St. Jude) was performed. Diagnosis of superior vena cava syndrome was established on the basis of clinical examination, ECG and chest radiography. The etiology was confirmed by echocardiography indicating an enormous dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta, 9.2 cm in diameter. Lethal outcome followed 24 h after admission according to the type of electromechanical dissociation. The first case of superior vena cava syndrome was described by William Hunter in 1757. This severe disease is caused by tumors which compress or develop inside superior vena cava. In cases of rapid symptom occurrence, thrombosis or compression of vena due to hematoma (trauma, voluminous, dissecting aortic aneurysm) should be considered. Since symptoms of aort...Continue Reading

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