Vena Cava Superior Syndrome Six Years after Central Venous Catheter Removal in a Patient on Hemodialysis

Abstract

Vena cava superior (VCS) syndrome is rarely seen as a complication of central-venous-catheter placement. Usually, the syndrome appears when the presence of the catheter causes intraluminal obstruction or thrombosis. In this case report, however, we describe a patient on intermittent hemodialysis who had been free of any venous central line for over 6 years, presented with a VCS syndrome. The CT scan showed an absent VCS without extravascular compression. Previous catheter placement was diagnosed as the case of the VCS syndrome. It is important to realize that VCS syndrome can occur late after removal of central venous catheters, and thus, clinicians should be aware of its symptoms in any patient who has had an upper central line in the past medical history.