How do you manage superior vena cava syndrome?

How do you manage superior vena cava syndrome?

Your chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer can also help treat SVCS. Other treatments that can help include: Raising your head when you lie down. Medications called corticosteroids, which can lower swelling and inflammation.

What is SVC management?

In the management of superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS), the goals are to relieve symptoms and to attempt cure of the primary malignant process. Only a small percentage of patients with rapid-onset obstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC) are at risk for life-threatening complications.

What does SVC syndrome look like?

The most common presenting symptoms of SVC syndrome are face/neck swelling, distended neck veins, cough, dyspnea, orthopnea, upper extremity swelling, distended chest vein collaterals, and conjunctival suffusion.

When is SVC syndrome an emergency?

SVC syndrome happens when blood flow through the superior vena cava is blocked. SVC syndrome is an oncologic emergency, which is a serious health problem caused by the cancer itself or its treatment. Oncologic emergencies need to be treated right away.

Does SVC syndrome affect blood pressure?

Symptoms occur when the inferior vena cava (the smaller of the two veins that transport deoxygenated blood back to the heart) gets compressed by pressure from the fetus and the enlarged uterus. A pregnant woman may experience lightheadedness and low blood pressure when lying directly on her back.

Is SVC obstruction an emergency?

Superior Vena Cava Obstruction (SVCO) is an oncological emergency and any patients should be discussed with a Registrar or above immediately, and with the local Respiratory team or on-call Oncology team at the Beatson (Appendix 6 for contact details), as soon as possible to guide investigation and management.

What causes SVC syndrome?

What causes superior vena cava syndrome? SVCS is caused when the flow of blood in the SVC vein slows. This vein carries blood from the head, neck, chest, and arms to the heart. Blood flow may be slowed by a blood clot, a tumor, or because the vein is being compressed by nearby tissue.

How common is SVC syndrome?

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome occurs in approximately 15,000 people in the United States each year (1). The syndrome was originally described as being secondary to an infection, such as tuberculosis, or a syphilitic aortic aneurysm (2–4).

What are early signs of superior vena cava syndrome?

Superior vena cava syndrome consists of various symptoms due to compression of the SVC (Lepper et al., 2011). Early signs and symptoms include cough, dyspnea, hoarseness, chest pain, jugular vein distention, and edema of the hands, face, and/or neck.

How does SVC syndrome cause shortness of breath?

In most cases of SVCS, the blood flow slows down over a few days or even weeks, and symptoms cause the person to get medical help. In very rare cases, SVCS happens fast and may lead to blockage of the SVC. This, in turn, blocks the airway so the person can’t breathe.

How serious is SVC syndrome?

SVCS is serious when it occurs in adults. But it can be life-threatening in children. Symptoms include trouble breathing, coughing, and swelling of the face, neck, upper body, and arms. Treatment options for SVCS caused by cancer may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, thrombolysis, and stent placement.

How Long Can You Live With SVC syndrome?

Prognosis. The average life expectancy for patients who present with malignancy-related SVC syndrome is 6 months, although the prognosis is quite variable depending on the type of malignancy.