SVC syndrome

Hi there- 

Anyone have much experience with SVC syndrome? I seem to have developed a very large blood clot in my SVC which was causing a 90% occlusion of the vein. After finding this out, it seems like there is some sense to the vague symptoms that have been bothering me for years. Tightness in my throat, swelling in my face, pressure in my head, swelling in my hands. I just had a 10 cm stent placed in my SVC and seem to be doing better- hard to tell when I'm not supposed  to be very active. 

Just curious if this is a common phenomenon for pacer patients?

2 Comments

SVC

by TAC - 2017-08-23 17:00:53

Generally the occlusion of the superior vena cava is caused by physical pressure against the vein from the surrounding structures which facilitates the formation of a blood clot inside the vein. However, in very rare occasions a blood clot may form around the lead (wire) of a pacemaker that uses the vein to access the heart chambers. 

Superior Vena Cava syndrome.

by Selwyn - 2017-08-24 14:21:45

Superior Vena Cav Syndrome as a complication of pacemaker insertion:

1 in 650  to 1 in 3100 cases

(Rozmus G, Daubert JP, Huang DT, Rosero S, Hall B, Francis C. Venous thrombosis and stenosis after implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators. J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2005;13:9–19.)

First reported case was in the 1970s.

Selwyn

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