The superior vena cava is formed by the union of the right and left brachiocephalic veins. It is located in the middle mediastinum, to the right of the aorta and anterior to the trachea. Superior vena cava syndrome consists of a group of signs (dilation of the veins in the neck, facial swelling, edema of the upper limbs, and cyanosis) and symptoms (headache, dyspnea, cough, orthopnea and dyspha...

A patient with sinus node dysfunction and absent right superior vena cava underwent stable temporary and permanent endocardial pacing via a left sided superior vena cava. Active fixation of the electrode and epicardial pacing were not necessary.

Approximately 15,000 cases of superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction are diagnosed in the United States annually. Malignancies (primarily lung cancer) are the underlying cause of 80-85% of cases, leaving 15-20% caused by various benign conditions, including sclerosing mediastinitis (the diagnosis in our case). Thrombolytic therapy and major advances in vascular techniques in recent years have imp...

Background A unipolar defibrillation system using a single right ventricular (RV) electrode and the active shell or "CAN" of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator itself situated in a left infraclavicular pocket has been shown to be as efficient in defibrillation as an epicardial lead system. The purpose of this study was to determine whether defibrillation efficacy can be improved further...

Abnormalities of the vascular system are always of extreme interest due to its importance in circulation. Normally the superior vena cava is a single vascular structure formed by the union of right and left brachiocephalic veins which are in turn formed by the union of corresponding internal jugular and subclavian veins, draining the head and neck as well as the superior extremity. However duri...

To cite: García Carretero R. BMJ Case Rep Published online: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/ bcr-2016-218844 DESCRIPTION An 81-year-old patient came to our clinic referred by his general practitioner to assess the distension of the veins in the neck and chest (figure 1). He was asymptomatic, except for the swollen collateral veins in the chest wall. He had no dyspnoea, cough or faci...

1.1 Anatomy The superior vena cava (SVC) originates in the chest, behind the first right sternocostal articulation, from the confluence of two main collector vessels: the right and left brachiocephalic veins which receive the ipsilateral internal jugular and subclavian veins. It is located in the anterior mediastinum, on the right side. The internal jugular vein collects the blood from head and...

Studies were performed on anesthetized saline-loaded dogs to delineate the afferent and efferent mechanisms involved in the antinatriuretic response to acute constriction of the thoracic vena cava. The kidneys of the animals were denervated prior to study, and renal perfusion pressure was controlled throughout the experiment. To differentiate between the potential afferent stimuli, increased he...

Dilatation of the azygos-hemiazygos venous system presenting as paravertebral masses may be seen in intrahepatic and extrahepatic portal vein obstruction, anomalous pulmonary venous return, occlusion of the superior and inferior vena cava, persistence of the left superior vena cava, hepatic vein obstruction, elevation of central venous pressure as in congestive heart failure, pericardial effusi...

an interatrial communication in an unusually cephalad location has been diagnosed at cardiac catheterization in 8 patients. These patients had the clinical features seen in patients who have atrial septal defects in the region of the fossa ovalis. Differentiation was accomplished by (1) the roentgenographic position of the catheter in the right superior pulmonary vein, (2) demonstration of an a...