- Letters to the Editor
- Open Access
- Open Peer Review
Migration of superior vena cava stent
https://doi.org/10.1186/1749-8090-3-12
© Bagul et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2008
- Received: 03 December 2007
- Accepted: 10 March 2008
- Published: 10 March 2008
Abstract
There has been a recent increase in the use of endovascular prostheses resulting in complex surgical and interventional complications not previously recognised. We report a case of Superior vena cava stenosis treated with a wallstent which migrated to the right atrium, necessitating a combined radiological and surgical approach to retrieve it.
Keywords
- Venous Occlusion
- Common Femoral Vein
- Left Femoral Vein
- Superior Vena Caval Obstruction
- Palmaz Stents
Introduction
There has been a recent increase in the use of endovascular prostheses resulting in complex surgical and interventional complications not previously recognised. We report a case of Superior Vena Cava Stenosis treated with a Wallstent which migrated to the right atrium, necessitating a combined radiological and surgical approach to retrieve it.
Illustrative case history
A 78 year old haemodialysis patient was admitted under the care of renal team with a history of symptomatic bilateral upper limb and facial swelling unrelated to her renal impairment. In the past, her right groin had been irradiated for lymphoma and she had significant co-morbidity precluding any surgical intervention. She had duplex scanning, which showed evidence of Superior Vena Caval obstruction. She underwent angioplasty and Stenting of the Superior Vena Cava with a 10 mm × 46 mm Wallstent Uni endoprosthesis (Boston Scientific Corp., MA, USA). A right Internal Jugular Vascath was inserted proximal to the stent and good flows were achieved from all three lumen.
Right Internal Jugular Catheter and SVC stent in Situ.
SVC stent lying transversely in right atrium.
Stent caught in Terumo wire & Snare.
Stent pulled back in Common Femoral vein.
Since the left femoral access was precious and the radiological options were exhausted the vascular surgeons were consulted. The patient was too unfit to be anaesthetised and it was decided that the best option in her case was to try to retrieve the stent from the common femoral vein under local anaesthesia.
Stent retrieved surgically.
Discussion
With an increasing number of central venous access procedures in recent years in oncology, renal failure and Nutrition, the incidence of upper extremity venous occlusion is also more prevalent. It is estimated that as many as 40% of patients who undergo subclavian vein catheterisation eventually develop venous stenosis [1]. The postulated mechanisms involve turbulence, nonphysiologic increase in flow volume, platelet aggregation, fibrosis and stenosis of the lumen by central venous catheters [2].
Various interventional radiological procedures have evolved to treat central venous obstruction, such as balloon angioplasty, pharmacologic and mechanical thrombolysis, thrombectomy and stenting. The frequent use of stenting as therapy for venous occlusion is controversial. Dotter first described Stents in arterial system in 1969 [3]. Zollikofer in 1988 described the clinical applications in the venous system [4]. Stenting is thought to act as an adjuvant to venous angioplasty by limiting the elastic recoil in compliant veins, excluding the damaged and dissected vasculature and counteracting extrinsic compression. Both balloon-expandable stents like Palmaz stents and self-expandable flexible stents like Wallstents have been implanted in central venous stenoses [5], but because they mould better to the vessel wall, Wallstents are preferred by most Radiologists for restoring venous patency. A self-adjusting stent is advantageous since chronic venous occlusions may undergo progressive luminal enlargement after stent deployment [6].
Stenting symptomatic venous obstruction achieves temporary benefit but regular follow up and reinterventions may be required to maintain patency [7]. Primary venoplasty patency rates can be increased by 10% at 12 months by Stenting with a reduction in procedures for restenosis [8].
Migration or misplacement of endoprostheses is being recognised more often [9]. Stent migration can result in potentially serious complications such as lodgement in the right ventricle [10–12]. Percutaneous techniques for rescuing dislocated endovascular stents can be effective with few complications in most cases [13]. In extreme cases; displaced stents could be left in-situ with no disastrous consequences [14].
The increasing complexity of the complications arising from endovascular procedures often require the vascular interventionist to be innovative in order to rescue vascular access which is precious both for the patients and their physicians [15]. On this Occasion a combined radiological and Surgical Procedure was required.
Care must be taken where catheter are inserted through the lumina of such stents as dislodgement may result in due consequences.
Consent
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for participation in this research.
A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.
Declarations
Authors’ Affiliations
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