Biomaterial Database

Retained knife blade and acute superior vena cava obstruction. 1988

J A Odell, and D Shama, and L Crause

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Wentworth Hospital, Durban, South Africa.

A case is described in which transfixation of the superior vena cava by the retained blade of a knife was the cause of acute caval obstruction. Use of a venous cannula as a stent allowed repair of the caval lacerations.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D013479	Superior Vena Cava Syndrome	A condition that occurs when the obstruction of the thin-walled SUPERIOR VENA CAVA interrupts blood flow from the head, upper extremities, and thorax to the RIGHT ATRIUM. Obstruction can be caused by NEOPLASMS; THROMBOSIS; ANEURYSM; or external compression. The syndrome is characterized by swelling and/or CYANOSIS of the face, neck, and upper arms which is called Pemberton's sign. Classification of SVC obstruction is often based on COLLATERAL CIRCULATION.	Obstruction of the Superior Vena Cava,SVC Obstruction,SVC Syndrome,SVC Thrombosis,Superior Vena Cava Obstruction,Superior Vena Cava Thrombosis,Obstruction, SVC,SVC Obstructions,SVC Syndromes,SVC Thromboses,Syndrome, SVC,Thrombosis, SVC
D014683	Vena Cava, Superior	The venous trunk which returns blood from the head, neck, upper extremities and chest.	Superior Vena Cava,Superior Vena Cavas,Vena Cavas, Superior
D014951	Wounds, Stab	Penetrating wounds caused by a pointed object.	Stab Wound,Stab Wounds,Wound, Stab