ABSTRACT
Objective To assess the different methods and their outcomes of interventional therapy for stenosis or occlusion in superior vena cava and its branches. Methods Sixty patients with stenosis or occlusion of SVC and its branches were retrospectively analyzed after interventional therapy. Among them, 38 were males and 22 were females, with age range from 15 to 72 years old(mean age 58). Seventeen patients were treated by thrombolysis, and the rest 43 patients accepted percutaneous angioplasty and stenting. Before and after that, the pressures within the vein were measured at the inflow side. The paired-t test was used for statistical analysis. Results After treatment, the pressure at the inflow side dropped from (24.8±2.3)mm Hg to (7.1±1.5)mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa), with a significant difference(t=3.232,P＜0.01). The clinical outcomes included complete relief in 27 patients, partial relief in 28 patients and non-relief in 5 patients. No major complications occurred. During 6 months follow up, restenosis occurred in 10 patients, among whom 6 received repeat intervention with good results. The other 4 patients turned to surgery .Conclusion Interventional therapy for stenosis or occlusion in SVC and its branches could recanalize the vessels, restore the blood flow and relief the clinical symptoms.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of interventional therapy for left iliac vein compression syndrome (LICS). Methods A total of 27 patients with LICS that were diagnosed by colour Doppler or venography,were included in this study. Among the cases,the disease course was shorter than 3 weeks in 13 patients,who presented with acute iliac-femoral vein thrombosis; in the other 14 patients,the disease course was longer than 3 weeks,showing the symptoms of chronic venous thrombosis. Venous puncture was performed via the contralateral femoral vein in 13 cases,and through the ipsilateral popliteal vein in 14. Venous filter was placed in 11 cases before thrombolysis,while in the other 16 cases,no filter was used. All of the patients received catheter-directed thrombolysis,afterwards,7 of them underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty,and the other 20 received angioplasty plus stent placement. Results In the 13 patients,who received venous puncture via the contralateral femoral approach,the guide wire could advance through the stenosis successfully in 8 patients but failed in 5. Ipsilateral popliteal vein puncture were then employed and succeeded in all the patients. Ipsilateral popliteal puncture were performed successfully in 14 patients. In 11 patients,inferior vena cava filter was placed before the procedure. In this series,the thrombolysis time was (85?16) h with a dose of (3000?320) thousand units urokinase. The thrombosis was dissolved completely in 13 acute patients and partial dissolution was attained in 14 patients in whom blood flow signal were detected color Doppler. After the operation,venogram showed complete patent iliac veins in all of the 27 cases. The patients were followed up for 6 to 26 months (mean,11 months). During the period,19 patients obtained patent iliac-femoral vein with the symptoms disappeared; 8 patients met the standard of improvement. Conclusions Interventional technique can be the first-line treatment for left iliac vein compression syndrome because of its favorable result and minimal invasion.