[Superior vena cava syndrome induced by pacemaker probes, 12 years after introduction]. / Un syndrome cave supérieur 12ans après l'implantation d'un pacemaker.

ABSTRACT

Superior vena cava syndrome is a rare disease, most often found to result from a malignant process, which causes extrinsic compression of the superior vena cava. In recent years, there has been an increase of superior vena cava syndrome related to medical devices (implantable site, pacemaker [PM], central venous line for parenteral nutrition...). We report the case of a 37-year-old patient who developed a superior vena cava syndrome 12 years after implantation of a PM. The diagnosis was established on venography after two negative venous-CT focused on the superior vena cava. The superior vena cava syndrome improved immediately after angioplasty and stenting covering the PM probes at the superior vena cava/brachiocephalic venous trunk junction.