Central venous stenosis is a rare cause of unilateral breast edema occurring in hemodialysis patients that needs to be differentiated from other differential diagnoses, including, but not limited to, inflammatory breast carcinoma, mastitis, lymphedema, and congestive heart failure. All reports of similar cases in the available literature have described improvement or resolution of the edema after treatment. Herein, we report and discuss the pathophysiology of breast edema formation in a patient who presented with massive left-sided breast edema 7 years after being diagnosed with central venous stenosis. Medical and minimally invasive therapy had not been successful, so she underwent reduction mammoplasty to relieve the symptoms.
Axillary Vein ; Breast ; Constriction, Pathologic* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Edema ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Inflammatory Breast Neoplasms ; Lymphedema ; Mammaplasty* ; Mastitis ; Renal Dialysis ; Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis

Adult ; Anticoagulants ; therapeutic use ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy

PURPOSE: The management of central venous catheters (CVCs) and catheter thrombosis vary among centers, and the efficacy of the methods of management of catheter thrombosis in CVCs is rarely reported. We investigated the efficacy of bedside thrombolysis with urokinase for the management of catheter thrombosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data from patients who had undergone CVC insertion by a single surgeon in a single center between April 2012 and June 2014. We used a protocol for the management of CVCs and when catheter thrombosis was confirmed, 5,000 U urokinase was infused into the catheter. RESULTS: A total of 137 CVCs were inserted in 126 patients. The most common catheter-related complication was thrombosis (12, 8.8%) followed by infection (8, 5.8%). Nine of the 12 patients (75%) with catheter thrombosis were recanalized successfully with urokinase. The rate of CVC recanalization was higher in the peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) group (87.5%) than the chemoport group (50%). Reintervention for catheter-related thrombosis was needed in only 2.2% of patients when thrombolytic therapy using urokinase was applied. Age <60 years (P=0.035), PICC group (P=0.037) and location of the catheter tip above the superior vena cava (P=0.044) were confirmed as independent risk factors for catheter thrombosis. CONCLUSION: Thrombolysis therapy using urokinase could successfully manage CVC thrombosis. Reintervention was rarely needed when a protocol using urokinase was applied for the management of CVC thromboses.
Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Thrombolytic Therapy* ; Thrombosis ; Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis* ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator* ; Vena Cava, Superior

Deep vein thrombosis is a predisposing condition for pulmonary embolism, which can be fatal. Usually, deep vein thrombosis is found in the lower extremities, but it can also occur in the upper extremities. The prevalence of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis appears to be increasing, particularly due to the increased use of indwelling central venous catheters. Pulmonary embolism is present in up to one-third of patients with upper extremity deep vein thrombosis. Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis is an increasingly important clinical entity, with the potential for considerable morbidity. Here, we report a case of upper extremity deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in a severely obese man who was successfully treated with anticoagulants.
Anticoagulants ; Central Venous Catheters ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Embolism* ; Thoracic Outlet Syndrome ; Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis* ; Upper Extremity* ; Venous Thrombosis

We experienced a case of deep vein thrombosis after spine surgery in the prone position with a central venous catheter (CVC). Posterior lumbar interbody fusion was performed on a 73-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. Accordingly, in the operation room under general anesthesia, two-lumen CVC were inserted into the left subclavian vein. The surgery was performed in the prone position with a Wilson frame. On the next day, there was a sudden occurrence of severe edema in the patient's left arm. By ultrasonography and computed tomography scanning, extensive deep vein thrombosis was observed in the left subclavian vein. The existence of a factor affecting blood flow such as the prone position may increase the risk of thrombus formation. Therefore, careful perioperative evaluation should be implemented.
Aged ; Anesthesia, General ; Arm ; Catheterization* ; Catheters* ; Central Venous Catheters ; Edema ; Female ; Humans ; Prone Position* ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine* ; Subclavian Vein ; Thrombosis ; Ultrasonography ; Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis ; Venous Thrombosis*

Venous thrombosis in atypical locations means thrombosis of upper extremity deep vein, cerebral venous sinus, splanchnic vein including portal, hepatic, mesenteric and splenic vein, renal vein, ovarian vein and retinal vein. This thrombosis rarely occurred and could be affected by the involved organ when compared to the incidence and cause of deep vein thrombosis in lower extremity with or without pulmonary embolism. There is a limitation to perform a large-scaled randomized trial for these rare conditions, and several recommendations based on results of small-sized studies and observational registries are available now. Therefore, we need multi-department and international collaboration to test the efficacy and safety of anticoagulation including new oral anticoagulants in the treatment of venous thrombosis in atypical locations.
Anticoagulants ; Budd-Chiari Syndrome ; Cerebral Veins ; Cooperative Behavior ; Incidence ; Lower Extremity ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Registries ; Renal Veins ; Retinal Vein ; Splenic Vein ; Thrombosis ; Upper Extremity ; Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis ; Veins ; Venous Thrombosis*

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) is relatively uncommon and superior vena cava (SVC) filter placements are not often encountered due to strict indication. A 33-year old male with underlying protein C/S deficiency and secondary liver cirrhosis was admitted because of hematemesis. The patient was conservatively managed, but underwent elective splenectomy to prevent aggravation of gastric varix. During postoperative care, the patient underwent cholecystectomy for acalculous cholecystitis. During the postoperative course, UEDVT was detected and heparinization was initiated. The patient experienced repeated attacks of severe dyspnea, which was accompanied by chest pain that lasted for 3 to 10 minutes. Repeated episodes of pulmonary thromboembolism were suspected and SVC filter was placed. Warfarin treatment was initiated and the SVC filter was removed about one month later. The case highlights the clinical significance of UEDVT and reports rare case of SVC filter placement. Intensivists should have comprehensive understanding of UEDVT and its management.
Acalculous Cholecystitis ; Chest Pain ; Cholecystectomy ; Dyspnea ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; Hematemesis ; Heparin ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Postoperative Care ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Splenectomy ; Upper Extremity ; Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis ; Vena Cava Filters ; Vena Cava, Superior ; Warfarin

The Tempofilter II is a widely used temporary vena cava filter. Its unique design, which includes a long tethering catheter with a subcutaneous anchor, facilitates the deployment and retrieval of the device. Despite this, the Tempofilter II has been used only in the inferior vena cava of patients with lower extremity deep venous thrombosis. In this article, we present a case of superior vena cava filtering using the Tempofilter II in patients with upper extremity deep venous thrombosis.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Pulmonary Embolism/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis/radiography/*therapy ; *Vena Cava Filters ; *Vena Cava, Superior

Trousseau's syndrome is an unexplained thrombotic event that precedes the diagnosis of an occult visceral malignancy or appears concomitantly with the tumor. Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis is prevalent in patients with a central venous catheter. Furthermore, a peripheral intravenous injection may cause upper extremity deep vein thrombosis as well. However, a deep vein thrombosis has not been reported in the form of Trousseau's syndrome with a catastrophic clinical course triggered by a single peripheral intravenous injection. A 48-year-old man presented with a swollen left arm on which he was given intravenous fluid at a local clinic due to flu symptoms. Contrast computed tomgraphy scans showed thromboses from the left distal brachial to the innominate vein. The patient developed multiple cerebral infarctions despite anticoagulation treatment. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer by endoscopic biopsy to evaluate melena and had a persistently positive lupus anticoagulant. After recurrent and multiple thromboembolic events occurred with treatment, he died on day 20.
Antiphospholipid Syndrome ; Arm ; Biopsy ; Brachiocephalic Veins ; Central Venous Catheters ; Cerebral Infarction ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor ; Melena ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Thrombosis ; Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis ; Venous Thrombosis

Aged ; Axilla ; Axillary Vein ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; complications ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Jugular Veins ; surgery ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Vascular Grafting ; methods