The difficult approach to neoplastic superior vena cava syndrome: surgical option.

AIM: Superior vena cava syndrome is a dramatic event that can be cured in specialized centers. METHODS: Between 1989 and 1995 6 patients with superior vena cava syndrome underwent surgical treatment for thoracic tumors. In all cases the vena was restricted by a neoplastic sleeve. A median sternotomy was performed in all cases. Two patients received an associated right anterolateral thoracotomy to obtain good surgical exposure for tumor resection and grafting. A 12 mm diameter polytetrafluoroethylene graft was inserted in all cases. The tumor resection was radical in 4 cases (2 thymic carcinomas, 2 malignant germ cell tumors) and palliative in 2 (1 non-small cell lung cancer and 1 mediastinal fibrosis). RESULTS: We had no in-hospital mortality. All patients had immediate relief of obstruction after by-pass. Three patients were alive without disease at the end of follow-up (40-96 mo), one patient died of postoperative complications after 4 mo, 2 patients died of disease after 4 and 12 mo. CONCLUSION: PTFE by-pass graft for treatment of the obstructed SVC relieves SVC syndrome and has good medium term patency.