AUTOLOGOUS FEMORAL VEIN USED FOR BYPASS O F THROMBOSIS IN THE SUPERIOR VENA-CAVA - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

We report on a 52-year old male patient who underwent implantation of an insulin pump because he had diabetes and in whom superior vena cava syndrome developed as a long-term complication. After unsuccessful ly sis therapy superficial femoral vein was implanted to form a bypass fr om the internal jugular vein to the right atrium. The postoperative co urse was uneventful from the aspects of both the bypass and the leg af ter explantation of the superficial femoral vein. The bypass is still patent 7 months after the operation, and the patient has no symptoms. Autogenous superficial femoral vein can be used successfully in the re construction of large venous vessels. It should be the graft of choice for young patients with benign diseases. Wie compare our result and t hose obtained with different substitutes described in the literature t hat have been used for reconstruction in superior vena cava syndrome.