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Superior Vena Cava Research Paper

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Intro The human body is an astonishing structure with intricate and complex systems. Many groups of organs work together in a common function to help maintain a normal internal environment. A very significant system within the body is the circulatory system. This system is composed of the heart and the blood vessels that allow blood to flow efficiently and quickly throughout the entire body . The most essential and the largest blood vessels in a person's circulatory system is the Superior Vena Cava and the Inferior Vena Cava. These two systemic veins carry deoxygenated blood from the upper and lower sections of the body into the right atrium of the heart. Although thin and short in width, the Superior Vena Cava is wide in diameter. It is …show more content…
The most common cases being from patients with a history of diseases such as: breast cancer, lymphoma, and lung cancer; which claims about 80% of all cases reported. Less common causes of this syndrome occur from complications of central venous catheters and pacemakers that cause blood clots to form within the veins. As stated in one study, “in other parts of the world, infection (syphilis and tuberculosis) is another cause of superior vena cava syndrome”(Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM). The first case of SVCS was report in 1757 by a man named William Hunter. He described the syndrome in a patient with syphilitic aortic aneurysm. Since then this condition has grown secondary to …show more content…
If a tumor presses against the trachea it can swell and become constricted quickly. The most familiar causes are from non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Therefore, prompt medical attention is needed. SVCS is typically diagnosed in the clinic with the help of physical exams and past medical history. But a simple chest x-ray or CT scan can confirm the location, mass, and severity of the obstruction. If the blockage is cancer inflicted, a biopsy would be obtained to make a specific diagnosis of the type of tumor. Considering each case and level of urgency is different, treatment plans also vary depending on each diagnosis.(Foster RN,MPH)

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