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Balloon Angioplasty for Superior Vena Cava Obstruction
- M. K. ALI, M.D., Ph.D.;
- M. S. EWER, M.D.;
- P. V. BALAKRISHNAN, M.D.;
- D. A. OCHOA, M.D.;
- R. C. MORICE, M.D.;
- A. E. RAIZNER, M.D.; and
- G. M. LAWRIE, M.D.
- The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute and Baylor College of Medicine; Houston, Texas
Excerpt
Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is gaining acceptance as an alternative to surgical intervention for arterial occlusive disease (1, 2). However, the procedure has not been widely used for venous occlusions; atherosclerotic plaque, the major indication for angioplasty, does not normally occur in systemic veins. In addition, the relatively thin venous walls are usually exposed to lower intravascular pressure, and may not be expected to tolerate the trauma of balloon angioplasty.
We report the case of a patient with superior vena caval obstruction initially treated with balloon angioplasty. The dilation resulted in reduction of the pressure gradient across the stenosis with significant
This 100-word excerpt has been provided in the absence of an abstract.
Article and Author Information
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to M. K. Ali, M.D., Ph.D.; Cardiopulmonary Section, Mail Box 70, U. T. M. D. Anderson Hospital, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard; Houston, TX 77030.
