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<article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" specific-use="sps-1.9" dtd-version="1.1" xml:lang="pt" article-type="case-report">
  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">abc</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title>Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia</journal-title>
        <abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="publisher">Arq. Bras. Cardiol.</abbrev-journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn pub-type="ppub">0066-782X</issn>
      <issn pub-type="epub">1678-4170</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia - SBC</publisher-name>
        <publisher-loc>S&#227;o Paulo, SP, Brazil</publisher-loc>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id" specific-use="scielo-v3">8c4QYhYrYhQCfwgJzfSm47q</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="other">00021</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id" specific-use="scielo-v2">S0066-782X2007000300021</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id" specific-use="scielo-v1">S0066-782X(07)08800321</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.1590/S0066-782X2007000300021</article-id>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Relato de Caso</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>Implante de endopr&#243;tese na via de entrada do &#225;trio direito monitorado por ultra-som intracard&#237;aco</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Tumelero</surname>
            <given-names>Rog&#233;rio Tadeu</given-names>
          </name>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff01"/>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Duda</surname>
            <given-names>Norberto Toazza</given-names>
          </name>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff01"/>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Tognon</surname>
            <given-names>Alexandre Pereira</given-names>
          </name>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff01"/>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Coccio Filho</surname>
            <given-names>Saulo Martins</given-names>
          </name>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff01"/>
        </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <aff id="aff01">
        <addr-line>
          <named-content content-type="city">Passo Fundo</named-content>
          <named-content content-type="state"/>
        </addr-line>
        <institution content-type="orgname">Universidade de Passo Fundo</institution>
        <institution content-type="orgdiv1">Faculdade de Medicina </institution>
        <institution content-type="orgdiv2">Hospital S&#227;o Vicente de Paulo</institution>
        <country country="BR">Brazil</country>
      </aff>
      <pub-date date-type="collection" publication-format="electronic">
        <month>03</month>
        <year>2007</year>
      </pub-date>
      <volume>88</volume>
      <issue>3</issue>
      <fpage>e48</fpage>
      <lpage>e52</lpage>
      <history>
        <date date-type="accepted">
          <day>22</day>
          <month>06</month>
          <year>2006</year>
        </date>
        <date date-type="rev-recd">
          <day>02</day>
          <month>06</month>
          <year>2006</year>
        </date>
        <date date-type="received">
          <day>22</day>
          <month>03</month>
          <year>2006</year>
        </date>
      </history>
      <permissions>
        <license license-type="open-access" xlink:href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/" xml:lang="en">
          <license-p>This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.</license-p>
        </license>
      </permissions>
      <abstract>
        <p>As obstru&#231;&#245;es do sistema venoso superior podem ocorrer por trombose espont&#226;nea ou na presen&#231;a de cateteres de hemodi&#225;lise ou quimioterapia, e mesmo na presen&#231;a de compress&#227;o extr&#237;nseca por tumores intrator&#225;cicos. O uso de endopr&#243;teses para o tratamento dessas obstru&#231;&#245;es vem se tornando pr&#225;tica comum e sua indica&#231;&#227;o inclui situa&#231;&#245;es de risco de embolia pulmonar, s&#237;ndrome da veia cava superior e perda do acesso vascular. Nesse contexto, o uso do ultra-som intracard&#237;aco pode ser &#250;til na avalia&#231;&#227;o da extens&#227;o e da gravidade da obstru&#231;&#227;o, al&#233;m de fornecer informa&#231;&#245;es morfol&#243;gicas murais e intramurais do sistema venoso. Relatamos o caso de uma paciente com s&#237;ndrome da veia cava superior por trombose da via de entrada do &#225;trio direito, submetida a implante de endopr&#243;tese monitorado por ultra-som intracard&#237;aco, al&#233;m de discutir o tema por meio de revis&#227;o da literatura.</p>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group xml:lang="pt" kwd-group-type="author-generated">
        <kwd>Ultra-sonografia de interven&#231;&#227;o</kwd>
        <kwd>s&#237;ndrome da veia cava superior</kwd>
        <kwd>endopr&#243;tese</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
      <pub-date publication-format="electronic" date-type="pub">
        <day>24</day>
        <month>05</month>
        <year>2007</year>
      </pub-date>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
  <body>
    <p>
      <bold>RELATO DE CASO</bold>
    </p>
    <p>Implante de endopr&#243;tese na via de entrada do &#225;trio direito monitorado por ultra-som intracard&#237;aco</p>
    <p>
      <bold>Rog&#233;rio Tadeu Tumelero; Norberto Toazza Duda; Alexandre Pereira Tognon; Saulo Martins Coccio Filho</bold>
    </p>
    <p> Cardiologia Intervencionista do Hospital S&#227;o Vicente de Paulo &#150; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Passo Fundo &#150; Passo Fundo, RS</p>
    <p>
      <xref ref-type="corresp" rid="end">Correspond&#234;ncia</xref>
    </p>
    <p>
      <bold>RESUMO</bold>
    </p>
    <p>As obstru&#231;&#245;es do sistema venoso superior podem ocorrer por trombose espont&#226;nea ou na presen&#231;a de cateteres de hemodi&#225;lise ou quimioterapia, e mesmo na presen&#231;a de compress&#227;o extr&#237;nseca por tumores intrator&#225;cicos. O uso de endopr&#243;teses para o tratamento dessas obstru&#231;&#245;es vem se tornando pr&#225;tica comum e sua indica&#231;&#227;o inclui situa&#231;&#245;es de risco de embolia pulmonar, s&#237;ndrome da veia cava superior e perda do acesso vascular. Nesse contexto, o uso do ultra-som intracard&#237;aco pode ser &#250;til na avalia&#231;&#227;o da extens&#227;o e da gravidade da obstru&#231;&#227;o, al&#233;m de fornecer informa&#231;&#245;es morfol&#243;gicas murais e intramurais do sistema venoso. Relatamos o caso de uma paciente com s&#237;ndrome da veia cava superior por trombose da via de entrada do &#225;trio direito, submetida a implante de endopr&#243;tese monitorado por ultra-som intracard&#237;aco, al&#233;m de discutir o tema por meio de revis&#227;o da literatura.</p>
    <p><bold>Palavras-chave:</bold> Ultra-sonografia de interven&#231;&#227;o, s&#237;ndrome da veia cava superior, endopr&#243;tese.</p>
    <p>
      <bold>Introdu&#231;&#227;o</bold>
    </p>
    <p>As obstru&#231;&#245;es do sistema venoso superior apresentam fisiopatogenia variada, incluindo ocorr&#234;ncia de trombose espont&#226;nea (1% a 4% de todas as tromboses venosas), presen&#231;a de cateteres de hemodi&#225;lise ou de quimioterapia, e mesmo compress&#227;o extr&#237;nseca por tumores intrator&#225;cicos<sup>1-3</sup>. O uso de endopr&#243;teses para o tratamento das obstru&#231;&#245;es do sistema venoso vem se tornando pr&#225;tica comum e sua indica&#231;&#227;o inclui situa&#231;&#245;es de risco de embolia pulmonar, s&#237;ndrome da veia cava superior e perda do acesso vascular<sup>4</sup>. Nesse contexto, o uso do ultra-som intravascular/intracard&#237;aco pode ser &#250;til na avalia&#231;&#227;o da extens&#227;o e da gravidade da les&#227;o obstrutiva, al&#233;m de proporcionar importantes informa&#231;&#245;es sobre a morfologia tanto mural como intralumimal do sistema venoso. Os autores relatam o caso de paciente do sexo feminino com obstru&#231;&#227;o da veia cava superior comprometendo o &#225;trio direito, secund&#225;ria a trombose de cateter totalmente implant&#225;vel. A paciente foi submetida a implante de endopr&#243;tese recoberta com politetrafluoretileno (PTFE) no sistema cava superior/&#225;trio direito, monitorado pelo ultra-som intravascular/intracard&#237;aco.</p>
    <p>
      <bold>Relato do Caso</bold>
    </p>
    <p>Paciente do sexo feminino, com 61 anos de idade, submetida a mastectomia radical pr&#233;via em decorr&#234;ncia de carcinoma ductal infiltrante e coloca&#231;&#227;o de cateter totalmente implant&#225;vel para realiza&#231;&#227;o de quimioterapia. Onze meses ap&#243;s o implante do cateter, a paciente passou a apresentar edema facial e dos membros superiores e cianose facial. A tomografia computadorizada do t&#243;rax demonstrou presen&#231;a de trombose da veia cava superior e por&#231;&#227;o superior do &#225;trio direito, confirmando o diagn&#243;stico de s&#237;ndrome da veia cava superior, n&#227;o tendo sido observada compress&#227;o extr&#237;nseca. </p>
    <p>Vinte dias ap&#243;s o in&#237;cio dos sintomas, o cateter implant&#225;vel foi retirado, sem remiss&#227;o dos sintomas. A paciente foi, ent&#227;o, encaminhada a venografia e cateterismo card&#237;aco direito. Por meio de inje&#231;&#227;o na veia subcl&#225;via direita e na veia femoral direita, p&#244;de ser visualizada oclus&#227;o completa da por&#231;&#227;o superior do &#225;trio direito imediatamente ap&#243;s a origem do sistema &#225;zigos at&#233; a proximidade da valva tric&#250;spide. A drenagem do sistema venoso superior ocorria pelo sistema &#225;zigos. As press&#245;es no ventr&#237;culo direito e na art&#233;ria pulmonar eram normais (press&#227;o arterial pulmonar m&#233;dia = 20 mmHg) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig01">fig. 1</xref>).</p>
    <fig id="fig01">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-gf01.jpg"/></fig>
    <p>Por causa do grave comprometimento cl&#237;nico, do risco cir&#250;rgico e do progn&#243;stico reservado, foi contra-indicado o procedimento cir&#250;rgico, sendo recomendado procedimento percut&#226;neo com implante de endopr&#243;tese recoberta com politetrafluoretileno (PTFE), por via femoral, sem pr&#233;-dilata&#231;&#227;o, com o objetivo de evitar o deslocamento de trombos para o sistema pulmonar. Por meio de pun&#231;&#227;o das veias femoral direita e subcl&#225;via direita, foi realizada inje&#231;&#227;o no &#225;trio direito, confirmando-se obstru&#231;&#227;o em sua via de entrada. Foram administradas 10.000 UI de heparina n&#227;o-fracionada, por via endovenosa. A oclus&#227;o foi ultrapassada atrav&#233;s da veia subcl&#225;via direita, utilizando-se um guia Shinobi 0,014" (Cordis, FL, Estados Unidos), sendo sua recanaliza&#231;&#227;o obtida por meio de dilata&#231;&#227;o com bal&#227;o 3 mm x 20 mm. Foi, ent&#227;o, posicionado fio-guia 0,035", 300 cm DAIG (St. Jude Medical, MN, Estados Unidos), por via femoral. Atrav&#233;s do fio-guia, foi introduzida uma bainha 9F at&#233; a veia jugular interna direita e foi posicionado cateter de ultra-som intravascular/intracard&#237;aco de 9 Mhz (Boston Scientifics, MN, Estados Unidos). </p>
    <p>Utilizando-se o sistema Galaxy (Boston Scientifics, MN, Estados Unidos), foram obtidas imagens ultra-sonogr&#225;ficas, que, juntamente com as imagens angiogr&#225;ficas, permitiram avaliar a presen&#231;a e a distribui&#231;&#227;o do trombo, sua rela&#231;&#227;o com o sistema &#225;zigos e com a valva tric&#250;spide (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig02">figs. 2 a 5</xref>), e as dimens&#245;es da endopr&#243;tese a ser utilizada. Foi mantida a op&#231;&#227;o de n&#227;o se realizar pr&#233;-dilata&#231;&#227;o com bal&#227;o por causa dos achados ultra-sonogr&#225;ficos, que demonstravam grande quantidade de trombo. Foi realizado implante da endopr&#243;tese Apolo 17 mm x 27 mm (16F) (Nano Endovascular, SC, Brasil) atrav&#233;s do acesso femoral por pun&#231;&#227;o, seguido de p&#243;s-dilata&#231;&#227;o com bal&#227;o Multitrack 18 mm x 50 mm (Numed, NY, Estados Unidos). Novas imagens angiogr&#225;ficas (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig06">fig. 6</xref>) e ultra-sonogr&#225;ficas (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig07">fig. 7</xref>) foram obtidas ao final da interven&#231;&#227;o. Foi observada presen&#231;a de trombo no bordo proximal da endopr&#243;tese, apesar do adequado restabelecimento do fluxo para a via de entrada do &#225;trio direito e da manuten&#231;&#227;o do fluxo no sistema &#225;zigos.</p>
    <fig id="fig02">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-gf02.jpg"/></fig>
    <p>
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-e01.jpg"/></p>
    <p>
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-e02.jpg"/></p>
    <p>
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-e03.jpg"/></p>
    <fig id="fig06">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-gf03.jpg"/></fig>
    <fig id="fig07">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-gf04.jpg"/></fig>
    <p>N&#227;o foram observadas imagens de trombos na arteriografia pulmonar de controle e as press&#245;es na art&#233;ria pulmonar permaneceram normais. Ainda na sala de hemodin&#226;mica, a paciente apresentou significativa melhora da cianose e evidente redu&#231;&#227;o do edema facial. Recebeu alta dois dias ap&#243;s o procedimento, em uso de &#225;cido acetilsalic&#237;lico (AAS) 200 mg e anticoagula&#231;&#227;o com warfarina 5 mg por via oral por seis meses, com INR-alvo (International Normalized Ratio) entre 2,0 e 3,0.</p>
    <p>Em 4 e 10 meses de acompanhamento, a paciente foi submetida a estudo hemodin&#226;mico com cateterismo de c&#226;maras direitas mais angiografia associados a ultra-som intravascular/intracard&#237;aco, o qual evidenciou manuten&#231;&#227;o do resultado inicial e desaparecimento da imagem de trombo no bordo proximal da endopr&#243;tese (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig08">figs. 8</xref> e <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig09">9</xref>). No seguimento cl&#237;nico de dois anos, a paciente mant&#233;m-se assintom&#225;tica e realizando suas atividades habituais, em uso di&#225;rio de AAS 200 mg. &#192; radiografia de t&#243;rax, n&#227;o se observa deslocamento da endopr&#243;tese.</p>
    <fig id="fig08">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-gf05.jpg"/></fig>
    <fig id="fig09">
      <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-gf06.jpg"/></fig>
    <p>
      <bold>Discuss&#227;o</bold>
    </p>
    <p>A ocorr&#234;ncia de trombose do sistema venoso superior &#233; uma situa&#231;&#227;o rara, mais comumente relacionada &#224; presen&#231;a de cateteres implantados no sistema venoso, para a realiza&#231;&#227;o tanto de hemodi&#225;lise como de quimioterapia, podendo ocorrer em algumas situa&#231;&#245;es ap&#243;s radioterapia<sup>1</sup>. S&#227;o relatados, na literatura, casos de ocorr&#234;ncia de s&#237;ndrome da veia cava superior em portadores de marcapasso<sup>2,3</sup>. O diagn&#243;stico dessa s&#237;ndrome pode ser dif&#237;cil quando os sintomas s&#227;o discretos, relacionados a pequenas obstru&#231;&#245;es, ou pela presen&#231;a de extensa circula&#231;&#227;o colateral. A maioria dos diagn&#243;sticos ocorre quando h&#225; presen&#231;a de edema correspondente.</p>
    <p>A terap&#234;utica, nesses casos, inclui a realiza&#231;&#227;o de tromb&#243;lise, dilata&#231;&#227;o por bal&#227;o, implante de <italic>stents</italic>, cirurgia ou sua combina&#231;&#227;o. No entanto, a melhor estrat&#233;gia ainda n&#227;o foi definida. A tromb&#243;lise qu&#237;mica com utiliza&#231;&#227;o de agentes trombol&#237;ticos (rTPa, estreptoquinase) apresenta incerteza quanto &#224; recanaliza&#231;&#227;o e possui baixas taxas de sucesso, al&#233;m da possibilidade de determinar risco de sangramento. A cirurgia, para esses casos, &#233; um procedimento considerado de grande porte, com necessidade de circula&#231;&#227;o extracorp&#243;rea. Esse procedimento eleva o risco de morbidade e de mortalidade em um grupo de pacientes com progn&#243;stico indefinido e co-morbidades elevadas, principalmente naqueles com neoplasia ou insufici&#234;ncia renal cr&#244;nica, em programa de hemodi&#225;lise. A tend&#234;ncia atual consiste no uso da t&#233;cnica percut&#226;nea, sendo sua superioridade relatada na literatura, para a recanaliza&#231;&#227;o tanto de oclus&#245;es como de estenoses de veia cava superior sem envolvimento do &#225;trio direito e/ou da valva tric&#250;spide<sup>4</sup>. A angioplastia por bal&#227;o para tratamento das obstru&#231;&#245;es da veia cava superior determina adequado resultado imediato<sup>5</sup>. A longo prazo, por&#233;m, sua efic&#225;cia &#233; comprometida, pela ocorr&#234;ncia de retra&#231;&#227;o el&#225;stica. Por outro lado, o uso de <italic>stents</italic> auto-expans&#237;veis ou expans&#237;veis por bal&#227;o reduz, de forma significativa, a ocorr&#234;ncia de retra&#231;&#227;o el&#225;stica, eliminando, assim, um dos fatores respons&#225;veis pela reestenose. Os <italic>stents</italic> auto-expans&#237;veis, particularmente, adaptam-se melhor &#224; anatomia das estruturas subjacentes, determinando uma esp&#233;cie de retra&#231;&#227;o el&#225;stica negativa, j&#225; que continuam a se expandir ao longo do tempo<sup>6</sup>, al&#233;m de se adaptarem em locais sujeitos a movimentos amplos, como articula&#231;&#245;es ou angula&#231;&#245;es. O uso de endopr&#243;teses recobertas com PTFE para tratamento da s&#237;ndrome da veia cava superior com envolvimento do &#225;trio direito ainda n&#227;o foi descrito na literatura. No caso relatado, observou-se manuten&#231;&#227;o do sucesso inicial no seguimento de dois anos. A consider&#225;vel experi&#234;ncia cl&#237;nica com as endopr&#243;teses a&#243;rticas sem anticoagula&#231;&#227;o oral remete &#224; discuss&#227;o sobre os territ&#243;rios de alta press&#227;o e de baixa press&#227;o e sobre a necessidade de anticoagula&#231;&#227;o. Presume-se que no sistema venoso, at&#233; que haja reendoteliza&#231;&#227;o, a anticoagula&#231;&#227;o oral seja fundamental para evitar, principalmente, embolia pulmonar. Como o risco de eventos emb&#243;licos decorrente da presen&#231;a de cobertura na endopr&#243;tese ainda n&#227;o &#233; conhecido, foi utilizada anticoagula&#231;&#227;o oral prolongada, por seis meses. A anticoagula&#231;&#227;o oral foi suspensa ap&#243;s esse per&#237;odo, atribuindo-se &#224; endoteliza&#231;&#227;o da endopr&#243;tese a redu&#231;&#227;o do risco de trombose. Al&#233;m das imagens obtidas por angiografia e ultra-som intravascular, a manuten&#231;&#227;o dos n&#237;veis normais de press&#245;es na art&#233;ria pulmonar demonstra a aus&#234;ncia de epis&#243;dios de emboliza&#231;&#227;o significativa. Deve-se considerar, no entanto, a possibilidade de ocorr&#234;ncia de microemboliza&#231;&#227;o para o territ&#243;rio pulmonar, o qual sabidamente possui intensa a&#231;&#227;o fibrinol&#237;tica.</p>
    <p>Outra aplica&#231;&#227;o da interven&#231;&#227;o percut&#226;nea no sistema venoso inclui o tratamento paliativo da s&#237;ndrome da veia cava superior de causa neopl&#225;sica. V&#225;rios relatos de casos s&#227;o descritos na literatura, e, nessa situa&#231;&#227;o, a t&#233;cnica demonstrou ser segura, de f&#225;cil execu&#231;&#227;o, com altas taxas de sucesso. Por fornecer r&#225;pido al&#237;vio dos sintomas comparativamente ao tratamento convencional, &#224; quimioterapia ou &#224; radioterapia isolados, pode vir a se tornar o procedimento de escolha nessas situa&#231;&#245;es<sup>7-10</sup>. A realiza&#231;&#227;o de bi&#243;psia endovascular poderia estar associada ao implante do <italic>stent</italic>, permitindo diagn&#243;stico definitivo para orientar a terapia antitumoral.<sup>11</sup></p>
    <p>O uso do ultra-som intravascular/intracard&#237;aco no tratamento percut&#226;neo das obstru&#231;&#245;es do sistema venoso &#233; objeto de estudo, evidenciando detalhes n&#227;o vis&#237;veis &#224; venografia. Por meio dele, a forma&#231;&#227;o de colaterais proximal a uma obstru&#231;&#227;o venosa pode ser diferenciada de trabecula&#231;&#245;es intraluminais<sup>12</sup>. A compress&#227;o extr&#237;nseca e a resultante deformidade do l&#250;men venoso, por sua vez, podem ser visibilizados diretamente. O ultra-som tamb&#233;m parece ser superior &#224; venografia para estimar o grau de obstru&#231;&#227;o, uma vez que a venografia subestimaria o grau da les&#227;o, especialmente nos casos de oclus&#245;es extensas<sup>12</sup>. Al&#233;m disso, o ultra-som fornece dados sobre a morfologia da parede luminal e sobre a presen&#231;a de trombos ou debris, e, em casos de estenose secund&#225;ria a m&#250;ltiplas pun&#231;&#245;es, o componente fibroso tamb&#233;m &#233; visibilizado<sup>12,13</sup>. Esse procedimento tamb&#233;m permite determinar a extens&#227;o e o grau da les&#227;o obstrutiva, com particular import&#226;ncia na defini&#231;&#227;o da extens&#227;o e do di&#226;metro de bal&#245;es e/ou <italic>stents</italic> a serem utilizados, al&#233;m de fornecer dados sobre os bordos proximais e distais do <italic>stent</italic> e sua adequada aposi&#231;&#227;o<sup>12,13</sup>. O uso do ultra-som intravascular/intracard&#237;aco auxilia a defini&#231;&#227;o do posicionamento adequado da pr&#243;tese sem comprometer a valva.</p>
    <p>
      <bold>Conclus&#227;o</bold>
    </p>
    <p>Dessa forma, o conhecimento adquirido com o uso do ultra-som intravascular/intracard&#237;aco nas interven&#231;&#245;es percut&#226;neas coronarianas e em cardiopatias permite que esse m&#233;todo seja utilizado como auxiliar importante no tratamento das obstru&#231;&#245;es, totais ou incompletas, do sistema venoso, especialmente no grupo de pacientes de risco e com baixo &#237;ndice de sucesso com outras terapias. O tratamento percut&#226;neo associado ao uso do ultra-som intravascular/intracard&#237;aco poder&#225; firmar-se como terapia de escolha para o tratamento de les&#245;es obstrutivas do sistema venoso.</p>
    <p>
      <fn id="end" fn-type="corresp">
        <p>Correspond&#234;ncia:</p>
        <p> Rog&#233;rio Tadeu Tumelero </p>
        <p> Rua Jos&#233; Bonif&#225;cio, 230/302 </p>
        <p> 99070-070 &#150; Passo Fundo, RS </p>
        <p> E-mail: </p>
        <p>
          <email xlink:href="rttumelero@cardiol.br">rttumelero@cardiol.br</email>
        </p>
      </fn>
    </p>
    <p> Artigo recebido em 22/03/2006; artigo revisado recebido em 02/06/2006; aceito em 22/06/2006</p>
  </body>
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  <sub-article article-type="translation" id="TRen" xml:lang="en">
    <front-stub>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Case Report</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title xml:lang="en">Endoprosthesis implantation at the entry pathway of the right atrium monitored by intracardiac ultrasound</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <abstract xml:lang="en">
        <p>Obstructions of the upper venous system may be due to spontaneous thrombosis or the presence of hemodialysis or chemotherapy catheters, or even the presence of extrinsic compression due to intra-thoracic tumors. The use of endoprosthesis for the treatment of these obstructions has become common practice, and its indications include situations of risk for pulmonary embolism, superior vena cava syndrome, and loss of vascular access. Within this context, the use of intracardiac ultrasound may be useful in evaluating the extension and severity of the obstructive lesion, besides providing important information about the mural and intraluminal morphology of the venous system. The authors report the case of a patient with superior vena cava syndrome caused by thrombosis at the entry pathway of the right atrium, besides discussing the subject by means of literature review.</p>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group xml:lang="en">
        <kwd>Superior vena cava syndrome</kwd>
        <kwd>endoprotesis</kwd>
        <kwd>ultrasonography, interventional</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
    </front-stub>
    <body>
      <p>
        <bold>CASE REPORT</bold>
      </p>
      <p> Endoprosthesis implantation at the entry pathway of the right atrium monitored by intracardiac ultrasound </p>
      <p>
        <bold>Rog&#233;rio Tadeu Tumelero; Norberto Toazza Duda; Alexandre Pereira Tognon; Saulo Martins Coccio Filho</bold>
      </p>
      <p> Interventional Cardiology of the Hospital S&#227;o Vicente de Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Passo Fundo &#150; Passo Fundo, RS - Brazil</p>
      <p>
        <xref ref-type="corresp" rid="end-body2">Mailing Address</xref>
      </p>
      <p>
        <bold>SUMMARY</bold>
      </p>
      <p>Obstructions of the upper venous system may be due to spontaneous thrombosis or the presence of hemodialysis or chemotherapy catheters, or even the presence of extrinsic compression due to intra-thoracic tumors. The use of endoprosthesis for the treatment of these obstructions has become common practice, and its indications include situations of risk for pulmonary embolism, superior vena cava syndrome, and loss of vascular access. Within this context, the use of intracardiac ultrasound may be useful in evaluating the extension and severity of the obstructive lesion, besides providing important information about the mural and intraluminal morphology of the venous system. The authors report the case of a patient with superior vena cava syndrome caused by thrombosis at the entry pathway of the right atrium, besides discussing the subject by means of literature review.</p>
      <p><bold>Key words:</bold> Superior vena cava syndrome; endoprotesis; ultrasonography, interventional.</p>
      <p>
        <bold>Introduction</bold>
      </p>
      <p>Obstructions of the upper venous system have a varied physiopathogenesis, including the occurrence of spontaneous thrombosis (1 to 4% of all venous thromboses, the presence of hemodialysis or chemotherapy catheters, and even extrinsic compression caused by intrathoracic tumors<sup>1-3</sup>). The use of endoprosthesis for the treatment of obstructions in the venous system has become common practice, and it has been indicated for situations of risk of pulmonary embolism, superior vena cava syndrome, and loss of vascular access<sup>4</sup>. Within this context, the use of intravascular/intracardiac ultrasound may be useful in evaluating the extension and severity of the obstructive lesion, besides providing important information about the mural and intraluminal morphology of the venous system. The authors report the case of a patient with obstruction of the superior vena cava secondary to thrombosis of totally implantable catheter, which was impairing the right atrium. The patient had a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered endoprosthesis implanted in the superior vena cava/right atrium system, which was monitored by intravascular/intracardiac ultrasound.</p>
      <p>
        <bold>Case Report</bold>
      </p>
      <p>The case of a 61-year-old female patient with previous radical mastectomy due to infiltrating ductal carcinoma and a totally implantable catheter implanted for chemotherapy is described. Eleven months after catheter implantation, the patient began to experience edema of the face and upper limbs, as well as cyanosis of the face. Computed tomography of the chest showed the presence of thrombosis in the superior vena cava and upper portion of the right atrium, confirming the diagnosis of superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS). No extrinsic compression was observed. </p>
      <p>Twenty days after the onset of symptoms, the implantable catheter was removed, and no remission of the symptoms was observed. Patient was referred to venography and right cardiac catheterization. An injection into the right subclavian vein and right femoral vein allowed visualization of the complete occlusion in the upper portion of the right atrium, immediately after the origin of the azygous system up to the tricuspid valve region. The upper venous system drained into the azygous system. Pressures in the right ventricle and pulmonary artery were within normal ranges (mean pulmonary arterial pressure = 20 mmHg) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig01-body2">Figure 1</xref>). </p>
      <fig id="fig01-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-gf01-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <p>Due to the severe clinical impairment, surgical risk and guarded prognosis, surgery was contraindicated. The percutaneous procedure was indicated for implantation of the PTFE-covered endoprosthesis through the femoral artery, without predilation in order to prevent thrombi displacement to the pulmonary system. The right femoral and right subclavian veins were punctured, and the right atrium was injected with contrast material, confirming the obstruction of the entry pathway. Non-fractioned heparin (10,000 UI) was administered endovenously. A 0.014" Shinobi wire (Cordis, FL, USA) was used to move past the occlusion; recanalization was performed by dilation with a 3mm x 20mm balloon. A 0.035", 300cm DAIG guidewire (St. Jude Medical, MN, USA) was positioned through the femoral vein. A 9F sheath was introduced over the guidewire to the right internal jugular vein, and a 9Mhz intravascular/intracardiac ultrasound catheter (Boston Scientifics, MN, USA) was positioned.</p>
      <p>Using the Galaxy system (Boston Scientifics, MN, USA), ultrasound images were obtained which, combined with the angiographic images, enabled assessment of the presence and distribution of the thrombus, its relationship with the azygous system and with the tricuspid valve (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig02-body2">figures 2 to 5</xref>), as well as the dimensions of the endoprosthesis to be used. Balloon predilation remained a non-viable option due do the ultrasonographic findings showing a large thrombus. A 17 x 27 mm (16F) Apolo endoprosthesis (Nano Endovascular, SC, BR) was implanted through the femoral puncture access, followed by balloon postdilation (a Multitrack 18x50mm balloon, Numed, NY, USA). At the end of the procedure, new angiographic images (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig06-body2">figure 6</xref>) and ultrasonographic images (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig07-body2">figure 7</xref>) were obtained. Despite the reestablishment of an adequate blood flow to the right atrium entry pathway, as well as flow maintenance in the azygous system, a thrombus was detected at the proximal rim of the endoprosthesis. </p>
      <fig id="fig02-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-gf02-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <p>
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-e01-en.jpg"/></p>
      <p>
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-e02-en.jpg"/></p>
      <p>
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-e03-en.jpg"/></p>
      <fig id="fig06-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-gf03-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <fig id="fig07-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-gf04-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <p>Follow-up pulmonary arteriography did not show any thrombi images, and the pulmonary artery pressures remained within normal ranges. While still in the hemodynamics room, the patient experienced a considerable improvement of cyanosis and noticeable reduction of facial edema. She was discharged two days after the procedure, and was on acetylsalicylic acid (200mg) and anticoagulation with oral warfarin 5mg for 6 months, with a target INR (International Normalized Ratio) between 2.0 and 3.0.</p>
      <p>At the 4<sup>th</sup> and 10<sup>th</sup> months of follow-up, the patient underwent a hemodynamic study with catheterization of the right chambers plus angiography associated with intravascular/intracardiac ultrasound, which showed that the initial results had been maintained and that the thrombus at the proximal rim of the endoprosthesis had disappeared (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig08-body2">figures 8</xref> and <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig09-body2">9</xref>). After two years, the patient was on 200mg of ASA, asymptomatic and performed routine daily activities. Chest X-ray does not show displacement of the endoprosthesis.</p>
      <fig id="fig08-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-gf05-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <fig id="fig09-body2">
        <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-88-03-0e48-00021-gf06-en.jpg"/></fig>
      <p>
        <bold>Discussion</bold>
      </p>
      <p>Thrombosis in the upper venous system is a rare occurrence, and is usually associated with the presence of catheters implanted in the venous system either for chemotherapy or hemodialysis; thrombi may also occur in certain situations after radiotherapy<sup>1</sup><bold>.</bold> There are also reports of superior vena cava syndrome in patients with pacemakers<sup>2,3</sup>. The diagnosis of this syndrome may be difficult when the symptoms are mild and associated with minor obstructions or caused by extensive collateral circulation. The presence of edema helps to make most diagnoses.</p>
      <p>Treatment in these cases includes thrombolysis, balloon dilation, stenting, surgery, or a combination of these procedures. However, the best strategy has not yet been established. Chemical thrombolysis performed with thrombolytic agents (rTPa, streptokinase) does not provide assurance as to recanalization, has poor success rates, and may pose a risk of bleeding. Surgery in these cases is considered a major procedure which demands extracorporeal circulation, thus raising the morbidity-mortality risk in a group of patients with non-established diagnoses and high comorbidities, mainly those with neoplasms or chronic renal insufficiency that are undergoing hemodialysis. Current trends consist of employing the percutaneous technique, whose superiority has been described in literature, both for recanalization of occlusions and superior vena cava stenosis without involvement of the right atrium and/or tricuspid valve<sup>4</sup>. Balloon angioplasty for the treatment of superior vena cava obstructions provides immediate adequate results<sup>5</sup>. On the long run, however, its efficacy is compromised by elastic retraction. On the other hand, the use of self-expandable stents or balloon-expandable stents significantly reduces the occurrence of elastic retraction, thus eliminating one of the factors responsible for restenosis. Self-expandable stents, in particular, adapt better to the anatomy of overlying structures by determining a type of negative elastic retraction, as they continue to expand over time<sup>6</sup> besides adapting to sites subjected to an ample range of movements, such as joints or angulations. The use of PTFE-covered endoprosthesis for the treatment of superior vena cava syndrome with the involvement of the right atrium has not yet been described in literature, and in the case reported, the initial success was maintained throughout the two-year follow-up. The considerable clinical experience with aortic endoprostheses without oral anticoagulation leads us to the discussion of high and low pressure territories, and the need for anticoagulation. Presumably, until reendothelialization is achieved in the venous system, oral anticoagulation is essential mainly to avoid pulmonary embolism. It is not known if the endoprosthesis coating poses any risk for embolic events. Therefore, prolonged oral anticoagulation therapy was administered for six months. Oral anticoagulation was interrupted after this period, and the reduced risk of thrombosis was attributed to the endothelialization of the endoprosthesis. Besides the images obtained by angiography and intravascular ultrasound, the maintenance of normal pressure levels within the pulmonary artery indicated absence of significant embolism episodes. One should consider, however, the possibility of microembolism in the pulmonary territory, which is known to have intense fibrinolytic action.</p>
      <p>Another application of percutaneous intervention in the venous system includes the palliative treatment of the superior vena cava syndrome of neoplastic origin. Several case reports are described in literature and, as such, the technique has been shown to be safe, easily-performed, with high rates of success, and providing rapid relief of symptoms when compared to conventional treatment, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy alone, and it may become the procedure of choice for these situations<sup>7-10</sup>. The use of endovascular biopsy could be associated with stenting to allow a definite diagnosis to guide anti-tumoral therapy<sup>11</sup>.</p>
      <p>The use of intravascular/intracardiac ultrasound for the percutaneous treatment of venous system obstructions has been studied, providing details not visible on venography. With this technique, the formation of collaterals proximal to a venous obstruction may be differentiated from intraluminal trabeculations<sup>12</sup>. The extrinsic compression and resulting deformity of the venous lumen, on the other hand, may be directly visualized. Ultrasound seems to be better than venography for assessing the grade of the obstruction, as venography would underestimate the grade of the lesion, particularly in cases of extensive occlusions<sup>12</sup>. Moreover, ultrasound provides data on the morphology of the luminal wall, presence of thrombi or debris and, in case of stenosis secondary to multiple punctures, the fibrous component may also be visualized<sup>12-13</sup>. It also enables determination of the extension and grade of the obstructive lesion, mainly to define the extension and the diameter of the balloons and/or stents to be employed, besides providing data on the proximal and distal edges of the stent and its adequate apposition<sup>12-13</sup>. The use of intravascular/intracardiac ultrasound helps to establish the adequate positioning of the prosthesis without compromising the valve.</p>
      <p>
        <bold>Conclusion</bold>
      </p>
      <p>The knowledge acquired through the use of intravascular and intracardiac ultrasound in coronary percutaneous interventions and cardiopathies enables us to use it as an important ancillary tool in treating total or incomplete obstructions of the venous system, mainly in the group of patients at risk and low rates of success with other therapies. Percutaneous treatment associated with intravascular and intracardiac ultrasound may become the method of choice in the treatment of obstructive lesions of the venous system.</p>
      <p>
        <bold>References</bold>
      </p>
      <p>
        <fn id="end-body2" fn-type="corresp">
          <label>
            <bold>Mailing Address:</bold>
          </label>
          <p> Rog&#233;rio Tadeu Tumelero</p>
          <p> Rua Jos&#233; Bonif&#225;cio, 230/302</p>
          <p> 99070-070 &#150; Passo Fundo, RS - Brazil</p>
          <p> E-mail: </p>
          <p>
            <email xlink:href="rttumelero@cardiol.br">rttumelero@cardiol.br</email>
          </p>
        </fn>
      </p>
      <p> Manuscript received March 22, 2006; revised manuscript received June 2, 2006; accepted June 22, 2006.</p>
    </body>
  </sub-article>
</article>
