Endovascular therapy for superior vena cava syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is caused by the obstruction of the SVC and can result in significant morbidity and mortality. In contemporary practice, endovascular therapy (ET) has become the standard of care for a majority of these patients. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available literature to assess technical success, restenosis, and recurrence of SVC syndrome following endovascular intervention. METHODS: For this meta-analysis, we conducted a systematic literature review of PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases from inception to April 14, 2021 for studies on ET for SVC syndrome. Studies included full-length journal articles on the use of ET among adults with SVC syndrome. Case reports or case series with fewer than 20 patients were excluded. We evaluated the endpoints of technical success rate, restenosis rate, and recurrence rates in SVC syndrome patients after endovascular stenting. The results of this study were calculated using random-effects models. FINDINGS: We identified 6,012 reports, of which 39 studies met our inclusion criteria and were included for analysis. A total of 2200 patients received ET for SVC syndrome. The weighted technical success rate was 98.8% (95% CI 98.2-99.3) with low heterogeneity (I2=17.4%, p = 0.185), restenosis rate was 10.5% (95% CI 8.4-12.6) with moderate heterogeneity (I2=53.5%, p<0.001), and recurrence rate was 10.8% (95% CI 8.1-13.5) with high heterogeneity (I2=75.8%, p<0.001). Total complication rate was 8.6% (95% CI 7.3%-9.9%) with a mean complication rate of 7.5% (95% CI 4.7%-10.3%). INTERPRETATION: Our systematic review revealed high technical success, low restenosis, and low recurrence rates following ET. Collectively, these results support the paradigm of ET as an effective and safe treatment for patients with SVC syndrome. FUNDING: None.

Predictors of intracranial hemorrhage in patients treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis for deep vein thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Although acute intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a rare complication of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT), it remains a major concern associated with the use of CDT. The incidence and clinical predictors of developing ICH in the setting of CDT are not known. METHODS: The National Inpatient Sample database was used to identify all patients with proximal lower extremity or caval deep vein thrombosis (DVT) from January 2005 to December 2013 in the United States. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify the clinical predictors of ICH between patients with DVT who had received anticoagulation therapy alone and those who had been treated with CDT plus anticoagulation therapy. RESULTS: Of 138,049 patients with proximal lower extremity or caval DVT, 7119 (5.2%) had received anticoagulation therapy and CDT. Of the patients treated with anticoagulation alone, ICH had occurred in 0.2% compared with 0.7% for those treated with CDT (P < .01). The independent predictors of ICH in the CDT cohort were a history of stroke (odds ratio [OR], 19.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.8-42.8; P < .01), chronic kidney disease (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.1-4.7; P = .03), age >74 years (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2-4.3; P = .02), male sex (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.01-3.3; P = .048). Of those patients treated with anticoagulation alone, the risk factors for the development of ICH were a history of stroke, hospital teaching status, and age >74 years. CONCLUSIONS: The results from the present nationwide observational study showed that of patients with DVT treated with CDT, the independent predictors for developing ICH were a history of stroke, chronic kidney disease, male sex, and age >74 years.

Superior Vena Cava Syndrome.

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome comprises a constellation of clinical signs and symptoms caused by obstruction of blood flow through the SVC. The management of patients with life-threatening SVC syndrome is evolving from radiation therapy to endovascular therapy as the first-line treatment. There is a paucity of data and societal guidelines with regard to the management of SVC syndrome. This paper aims to update the practicing interventionalists with the contemporary and the evolving therapeutic approach to SVC syndrome. In addition, the review will focus on endovascular techniques, including catheter-directed thrombolysis, angioplasty, and stenting, and their associated complications.

Patient with Lynch syndrome with subsequent development of small bowel adenocarcinoma.

Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare cancer in the general population, but the incidence increases in patients with Lynch syndrome. The present case describes a 57-year-old white woman with a history of colon cancer status posthemicolectomy and diagnosis of Lynch syndrome. Twenty years after her operation, the patient presented with vague abdominal discomfort and constipation, and underwent an exploratory laparotomy which revealed a stage 3A SBA. Genetic testing of the specimen provided evidence of microsatellite instability and faulty DNA repair supporting aetiology of Lynch syndrome. This case is unique in that SBA, if present in patients with Lynch syndrome, is usually a presenting symptom and has not been widely described in literature as an occurrence so many years after. As a result, this case highlights the importance of a low threshold for a thorough evaluation in patients with Lynch syndrome who present with signs of small bowel obstruction.

An 88-year-old woman with flushing, alopecia and hirsutism and a Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour.

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour (SLCT) is a rare, androgen-secreting sex cord-stromal tumour of the ovary that usually occurs in young premenopausal women. The major clinical manifestations are virilisation and defeminisation. The following case describes an 88-year-old G1P1 woman, 40 years after menopause, who presented with flushing, hirsutism, voice changes and alopecia along with significantly elevated levels of testosterone. Postoperative report revealed a well-differentiated SLCT in the left ovary. This case is unique in that SLCT is a very rare cancer and even more so in an 88-year-old woman. Taking this case into consideration, it becomes reasonable to check androgen and oestrogen levels in postmenopausal women, not only in patients with signs of virilisation, but also in those with non-classical presentations, such as flushing or heat spells.