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With David Brandon, Olivia Ancker, Sandra Collodel, Marisa Solinas. A young German tourist, Katherina, on the hunt for artistic views in Florence, is prey to sudden and mysterious illnesses which, little by little, make memories of a previous visit to Venice emerge from her memory.
- Carlo U. Quinterio
- 81
- Drama, Thriller
- David Brandon, Olivia Ancker, Sandra Collodel
- Overview
- What are the symptoms of superior vena cava syndrome?
- What are the causes of this syndrome?
- Effects of superior vena cava syndrome
- Diagnosis of superior vena cava syndrome
- What are the treatment options for superior vena cava syndrome?
- Complications and associated conditions
- Outlook and prognosis
- Takeaway
Compression or obstruction of the superior vena cava, a major vein in your body, can lead to superior vena cava syndrome, or SVCS. It’s treatable, but most cases are caused by cancer.
The superior vena cava is one of the primary veins within our bodies. It transports blood from our arms, chest, neck, and head to our hearts. In superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS), this vein has become obstructed or compressed to some degree. One of the main causes of SVCS is cancer.
SVCS usually results in a group of symptoms that develop slowly over time. If these symptoms are ignored, SVCS can cause serious breathing problems and become a medical emergency. If you experience any of the common symptoms of SVCS you should seek medical advice immediately.
The common symptoms of SVCS are:
•coughing
•swollen arms, torso, neck, or face
•trouble breathing and shortness of breath
There are some other symptoms of SVCS, but these occur more rarely. They are:
The majority of cases of SVCS are caused by cancer. It’s most common in people with lung cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or any other cancer that has spread to the chest, including breast cancer.
Tumors in the chest may press on or grow into the superior vena cava. If the cancer spreads to the lymph nodes around the superior vena cava, they can enlarge and press on or cause a blockage in the vein.
Your blood travels in two systems through your body:
•the arterial system, which carries oxygen-rich blood
•the venous system, which carries blood that doesn’t have oxygen back to the heart
The superior vena cava is a part of the venous system. It collects blood that drains from the head, neck, upper chest, and arms back toward the heart. The blood returns to the right part of the heart known as the atrium, where it will go to the lungs to receive oxygen.
If you have superior vena cava syndrome, blood doesn’t flow as well to the heart. This is a problem because it delays the heart’s ability to get oxygen to the blood. As a result, a person will have problems getting enough oxygen to their body.
The effects of SVCS depend on whether the underlying condition is treatable. Some causes can be corrected — such as removing or relocating a medical device, like a central line or implanted defibrillator. Others may depend on surgery and cancer treatments.
If your doctor suspects that you may have SVCS, there are a variety of tests that may be used to confirm this diagnosis. They may recommend any combination of:
•ultrasound of the blood vessels in the neck and chest
•computed tomography (CT) scan
•venogram test
Previously, doctors could only restore blood flow to the heart via open surgical treatments. However, there have been advancements, which means doctors can repair the affected area. Treatment for SVCS varies depending on its underlying cause:
•If cancer is the reason, the main treatment for SVCS is to target the cancer that’s causing it with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
•If the SVCS is due to a pacemaker or cardiac device, doctors usually don’t recommend stenting. Instead, they may remove and replace the positioning of the device.
•If the SVCS is caused by a blood clot, your doctor may recommend thrombolysis, a treatment to break up the clot within the vein, or that a stent be inserted to hold open the blocked vein. Surgery to bypass any blockages may also be an option.
•To perform endovascular repair, your doctor will gain access to the venous system — this is usually through the femoral vein in your groin. They will then thread a special catheter upward to reach the area where the superior vena cava is blocked. If possible, they will place a stent to hold the vessel open and remove any blood clots present.
•Your doctor may also prescribe corticosteroids to reduce swelling or diuretics to remove excess fluid from your body by increasing urination.
When blood doesn’t return effectively to the heart, your body tries to solve the problem by creating more veins. This is known as developing collateral circulation. They are like an alternate route from the superior vena cava to try to get blood back to the heart.
Even with collateral circulation, you can still experience symptoms, such as:
•swelling, most worrisome in the brain and larynx (which affects breathing)
•cough
•nausea
•problems swallowing
The outlook for SVCS depends upon the condition’s underlying cause and additional symptoms. If patients have symptoms of brain or throat swelling, the prognosis is poor and can result in sudden death.
Patients with lung cancer who experience SVCS have a life expectancy that doesn’t usually exceed 24 months. If your cancer doesn’t respond to radiation treatments to shrink the mass, the survival rates are usually less than one year.
Superior vena cava syndrome itself is very treatable, and symptoms are usually greatly improved within the first month of treatment.
However, because the majority of cases are caused by cancer, the overall outlook will depend on the type and stage of the cancer involved.
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Jun 14, 2022 · Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is a group of symptoms that happen when something blocks or compresses your superior vena cava. It’s often associated with cancer, but may involve an infection, blood clot or implanted medical device. Severe cases can be life-threatening, especially in children.
Find movie and film cast and crew information for Sindrome veneziana (1989) - Carlo U. Quinterio on AllMovie
Sindrome veneziana. 1989. 1h 21m. Drama/Thriller. Advertisement. Cast. David Brandon (Paolo) Olivia Ancker (Katherina) Sandra Collodel (Beate) Marisa Solinas (Francesca) Carlo Monni (Uomo con i ...
Nov 11, 2022 · 3 min read. Superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) is when something -- usually a cancerous tumor -- blocks or pinches the superior vena cava, a major vein that carries blood from your chest,...
