Percutaneous management of chronic central venous occlusive disease

Abstract

Chronic central venous occlusion can be a debilitating condition for patients. Malignancy, such as NSCLC, is the most common etiology although indwelling intravascular devices, prior thoracic radiation therapy, and fibrosing mediastinitis can cause chronic central venous occlusions as well. Treatment goals are focused on symptomatic relief and, if the etiology is malignancy, treatment is often palliative. Percutaneous recanalization and endovascular stenting of chronic occlusions is a minimally invasive technique that can be performed in an outpatient setting, often resulting in immediate relief of symptoms.