Endovascular stenting to treat chronic long-segment inferior vena cava occlusion

Abstract

Chronic inferior vena cava (IVC) occlusion is often associated with debilitating symptoms. Supportive therapy is the treatment offered to most patients, often with poor symptom control. Patients have had to learn to cope with the sequelae of the syndrome and to accept lifelong disability and pain. This may no longer be the case, because endovascular procedures have emerged as a promising alternative for treatment of chronic IVC occlusion. We present 2 case reports of long-standing long-segment IVC occlusion successfully treated with endovascular procedures that incorporated progressive balloon dilation and stenting. The remarkably rapid relief of pain and swelling and overall improvement in quality of life warrants attempts to correct the condition in other patients with IVC occlusion.