Unveiling a Unique Presentation of Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Succeeding a Traumatic Motor Vehicle Crash and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Lead Placement

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, once a rarity, has seen an uptick in cases with diverse origins. While this disease process is clinically diagnosable, imaging modalities and tissue biopsies further refine interventions. The clinical presentation includes but is not limited to edema of the arms, n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) CA), 2024-05, Vol.16 (5), p.e61303
Main Authors: Sapone, Jenna, Chalunkal, Mathai
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibiotics
Biopsy
Blood clots
Catheters
Chemotherapy
Cyanosis
Edema
Infections
Intervention
Pacemakers
Patients
Radiation
Syphilis
Thrombosis
Trauma
Tuberculosis
Veins & arteries
Venous access
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Description
Summary:Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome, once a rarity, has seen an uptick in cases with diverse origins. While this disease process is clinically diagnosable, imaging modalities and tissue biopsies further refine interventions. The clinical presentation includes but is not limited to edema of the arms, neck, and head, facial plethora, cyanosis, and or distention of subcutaneous vessels. SVC syndrome can be attributed to extrinsic compression or thrombosis in many cases. If symptoms are not life-threatening, the overall morbidity is based on the underlying root cause. Few cases have been reported with associated death due to epistaxis. However, the obstruction itself can be initially asymptomatic and then slowly progress over months to years. This case report highlights a distinct instance of SVC syndrome with notable risk factors: implantable cardioverter defibrillator placement and prior cardiac trauma status post-intervention.
ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.61303