Cardiac Arrest Following SVC Intravascular Stenting: A Case Report

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is a known collection of symptoms caused by obstruction of blood flow through the superior vena cava. Symptoms notably seen include difficulty breathing, coughing, hoarse voice, and swelling of the head, neck, and arm. It is most commonly seen secondary to malignancy from tumor infiltration of the vessel wall and is frequently associated with lung cancer due to anatomic location. Treatment of SVC syndrome largely depends on severity of symptoms. While treatment of underlying cause is considered first line, intravascular stenting is also commonly considered in life threatening cases and for symptomatic relief. We report a presentation of a 78-year-old Caucasian male with noted lung neoplasm who demonstrated symptoms of SVC syndrome while in the hospital. Patient was referred to interventional radiology for SVC stent placement for symptomatic control. The procedure was complicated by stent migration into the right ventricle, which triggered a severe arrhythmia, leading to cardiac arrest.