Benign superior vena cava syndrome: Stenting is now the first line of treatment

Treatment modalities in 70 consecutive patients with benign superior vena cava syndrome over 23 years.

Secondary interventions required to maintain patency in (A) the open surgical group (n = 42) and (B) the endovascular group (n = 28). The bars represent the percentage of patients in each group, and the line graphs represent the total number of interventions. Secondary interventions in the surgical group include new superior vena cava bypass grafts in two patients after occlusion of the primary grafts.

A, Cumulative primary, assisted primary, and secondary patency rates at 1, 3, and 5 years of open surgical reconstruction (n = 42). Range bars represent the standard error of the mean <10%. B, Cumulative primary, assisted primary, and secondary patency rates at 1 and 3 years of endovascular repair (n = 28). Range bars represent the standard error of the mean <10%.

Grading of symptom relief at last clinical follow-up in patients undergoing open surgical reconstruction (n = 42) or endovascular repair (n = 28).