HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Alan J. Mearns Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Shah, R. Articles by Mearns, A. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Shah, R. Articles by Mearns, A. J.

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1996;112:335-340
© 1996 Mosby, Inc.

GENERAL THORACIC SURGERY

STENTING IN MALIGNANT OBSTRUCTION OF SUPERIOR VENA CAVA

From the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford, United Kingdom.

Received for publication June 1, 1995 Accepted for publication Sept. 19, 1995. Address for reprints: S. Sabanathan, DM, FRCS, FICA, Consultant Thoracic Surgeon, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, Bradford BD9 6RJ, United Kingdom.

Abstract

The treatment of patients with malignant superior vena caval obstruction with minimal morbidity has been made possible by the recent introduction of expandable metal stents as the sole palliative treatment or as an adjunct to other treatment modalities. To alleviate the distressing symptoms of superior vena caval obstruction, self-expanding metal stents were used successfully in 12 (Wallstent device in 6 and Gianturco device in 6 patients) of 13 patients. The diagnoses were small cell carcinoma (n = 4), squamous cell carcinoma (n = 4), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 1), and mesothelioma (n = 1), and a diagnosis of malignancy was not confirmed (although strongly suspected) in the remaining three cases. Eleven patients had immediate relief of obstruction and there was no change in one patient. Mean follow-up was 3.7 months (range 1 to 10 months). Excellent palliation was obtained in all but one patient in whom recurrent superior vena caval obstruction developed 3 months after stenting. Mean survival was 4.8 months (range 1 to 10 months). The ease of insertion with the use of local anesthesia with radiologic control, the self-expanding nature of the stent, and the lack of major complications on follow-up of up to 10 months are particular advantages. The self-expanding superior vena caval stents are a useful addition to our armamentarium in the management of malignant superior vena caval obstruction.(J THORACCARDIOVASCSURG1996;112:335-40)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Garcia Monaco, H. Bertoni, G. Pallota, R. Lastiri, M. Varela, E.M. Beveraggi, and B.C. Vassallo Use of self-expanding vascular endoprostheses in superior vena cava syndrome Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., August 1, 2003; 24(2): 208 - 211. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]