A Case of Acute on Chronic Life Threatening SVC Stenosis Managed by Timely Intervention

Abstract

Superior Vena Cava (SVC) obstruction is a very well recognized condition described in many diseases like tumour or malignancies of middle mediastinum, clots in SVC, aortic aneurysm, thyroid disorders, infections like fungal and tuberculosis of lungs and rarely constrictive pericarditis. Clinical presentation is usually chronic or sub-acute. Rarely, it can have acute presentation with symptoms of dyspnoea and stridor. Diagnosis is usually made in view of underlying disease and presence of puffiness of face and engorged neck veins. Timely intervention especially in acute presentation is often lifesaving. We present a case of acute on chronic SVC obstruction in a patient of chronic kidney disease (CKD) related to HD (Haemodialysis) catheter induced obstruction of SVC. We had a patient who presented with stridor and orthopnea in a SVC syndrome setting in an emergency.