Review of Superior Vena Cava Resection in the Management of Benign Disease and Pulmonary or Mediastinal Malignancies

Background. Obstruction of the superior vena cava (SVC) by tumor or benign disease implies unreconstructable disease and poor outcome. We analyzed the operative results, graft patency, and survival in patients undergoing SVC resection and reconstruction for benign disease and pulmonary or mediastinal malignancy. Methods. Patients undergoing SVC resection from 1997 to 2007 for surgical management of benign and invasive neoplasms were retrospectively reviewed. Results. We identified 19 patients requiring SVC resection. Malignant disease was resected in 17: lung cancer in 9 and mediastinal malignancy in 8. Two patients (10%) with benign processes required reconstruction for chronic SVC syndrome. Ringed Gore-Tex conduit (W.L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) was used for 12 reconstructions (63%) of the SVC, and 7 patients underwent primary closure or autologous pericardial patch repair. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy was administered to 9 patients (53%). There was one perioperative death (5%). Major postoperative morbidities included atrial fibrillation in 5, stroke in 2, respiratory failure in 3, myocardial infarction in 1, and Horner syndrome in 1. Median survival for the entire cohort was 45.5 months (range, 0.2 to 147 months), with a mean follow-up of 45.8 months. Five-year survival probability was 30% for patients with resected lung cancer and 56% for patients with resected anterior mediastinal malignancies. Conclusions. Resection and reconstruction may be safely performed in selected patients for benign and malignant obstruction or infiltration of the SVC. Survival and intermediate-term patency after tubular grafting of the SVC are acceptable. (Ann Thorac Surg 2009; 88: 392-8) (C) 2009 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons