Abstract
Venous reconstructions were performed by prosthetic grafts in six cases of superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. The patients were from 3 to 66 year-old (average 48 year-old), four males and two females. The causes of SVC syndrome were thymomas in five cases and fibrosing mediastinitis in one case. In four cases, both SVC and left brachiocephalic vein were replaced by prosthetic grafts. Only SVC was replaced in one and left brachiocephalic veins in one. Ten prosthetic grafts were used, four were woven-Teflon and six were E-PTFE grafts. Three of woven-Teflon grafts were occluded and all of six E-PTFE grafts were patent. Four of thymomas and one fibrosing mediastinitis were dead. One case died within a month after operation. One is alive more than 2 years after operation without symptom of SVC syndrome. In our experience E-PTFE grafts showed better result in patency than woven-Teflon grafts. we think that E-PTFE graft is a good material for venous reconstruction of SVC syndrome.
