Reconstruction of the Superior Vena Cava with Extra-luminal Bypass Shunt / 대한흉부외과학회지

We operated on a 41-year-old man using venous bypass shunt for superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome caused by mediastinal fibrosis. The patient had substantially high venous pressure and high risk of postoperative neurologic deficits. The collateral veins were deemed to be interrupted during the surgical reconstruction of SVC. Treatment included resection of the obstructed SVC and innominate vein and reconstruction with an autologous pericardial tube graft. During the operation, venous drainage from upper body was maintained with an extraluminal bypass shunt. The shunt was effective at prompt relief of venous hypertension, eliminating the time constraints, and preventing the postoperative complications.