Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Thorax logoLink to Thorax
. 1986 Mar;41(3):210–214. doi: 10.1136/thx.41.3.210

Surgical treatment of idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis: report of five cases.

I M Mitchell, N R Saunders, O Maher, S C Lennox, D R Walker
PMCID: PMC460296  PMID: 3715778

Abstract

Idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis is a rare disease of unknown aetiology. It is a benign condition in which abnormal proliferation of fibrous tissue occurs within the mediastinum, leading to constriction and obliteration of local structures, particularly the great veins. It is a rare cause of superior vena caval obstruction (1-2%) but one that is potentially amenable to surgical palliation. The results of venous reconstruction in five patients with superior vena caval obstruction secondary to idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis are reported. Reversed autogenous saphenous vein grafts were used in two patients, woven silicone rubber prostheses in two, and bovine pericardial conduits in one patient. Useful long term results were obtained in three patients, but the bovine pericardial graft and one of the vein grafts failed within a few weeks.

Full text

PDF
210

Images in this article

211Image
on p.211
212Image
on p.212
212Image
on p.212

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ashton F., Geddes R., Fejfar J. Woven silicone rubber as a venous prosthesis. Br Med J. 1969 Aug 16;3(5667):409–410. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5667.409. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BARRETT N. R. Idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis. Br J Surg. 1958 Nov;46(197):207–218. doi: 10.1002/bjs.18004619703. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Brais M. P., Braunwald N. S. Tissue acceptance of materials implanted within the circulatory system. Arch Surg. 1974 Sep;109(3):351–358. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1974.01360030003002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. COOLEY D. A., HALLMAN G. L. SUPERIOR VENA CAVAL SYNDROME TREATED BY AZYGOS VEIN-INFERIOR VENA CAVA ANASTOMOIS: REPORT OF SUCCESSFUL CASE. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1964 Mar;47:325–330. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Chiu C. J., Terzis J., MacRae M. L. Replacement of superior vena cava with the spiral composite vein graft. A versatile technique. Ann Thorac Surg. 1974 Jun;17(6):555–560. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(10)65697-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. DALE W. A., SCOTT H. W., Jr Grafts of the venous system. Surgery. 1963 Jan;53:52–74. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Doty D. B. Bypass of superior vena cava: Six years' experience with spiral vein graft for obstruction of superior vena cava due to benign and malignant disease. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1982 Mar;83(3):326–338. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Fiore A. C., Brown J. W., Cromartie R. S., Ofstein L. C., Peigh P. S., Sears N. S., Deschner W. P., King H. Prosthetic replacement for the thoracic vena cava: an experimental study. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1982 Oct;84(4):560–568. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Gott V. L., Furuse A. Antithrombogenic surfaces, classification and in vivo evaluation. Fed Proc. 1971 Sep-Oct;30(5):1679–1687. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. HACHE L., WOOLNER L. B., BERNATZ P. E. Idiopathic fibrous mediastinitis. Dis Chest. 1962 Jan;41:9–25. doi: 10.1378/chest.41.1.9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. HANLON C. R., DANIS R. K. SUPERIOR VENA CAVAL OBSTRUCTION: INDICATIONS FOR DIAGNOSTIC THORACOTOMY. Ann Surg. 1965 May;161:771–777. doi: 10.1097/00000658-196505000-00015. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Haimovici H., Hoffert P. W., Zinicola N., Steinman C. An experimental and clinical evaluation of grafts in the venous system. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1970 Dec;131(6):1173–1186. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hasegawa T., Matsumoto H., Yamamoto M., Fuse K., Mizuno A. Prosthetic replacement of superior vena cava. Anti-platelet-adhesive drug influence. Arch Surg. 1973 Jun;106(6):848–850. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1973.01350180082023. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Hiratzka L. F., Wright C. B. Experimental and clinical results of grafts in the venous system: a current review. J Surg Res. 1978 Dec;25(6):542–561. doi: 10.1016/0022-4804(78)90143-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Light A. M. Idiopathic fibrosis of mediastinum: a discussion of three cases and review of the literature. J Clin Pathol. 1978 Jan;31(1):78–88. doi: 10.1136/jcp.31.1.78. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Longmire W. P., Jr, Goodwin W. E., Buckberg G. D. Management of sclerosing fibrosis of the mediastinal and retroperitoneal areas. Ann Surg. 1967 Jun;165(6):1013–1022. doi: 10.1097/00000658-196706000-00016. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Miller R. E., Corneil N. J., Sullivan F. J. Replacement of superior vena cava with autogenous tissue. An experimental study. Ann Thorac Surg. 1973 May;15(5):474–482. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(10)65334-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Miller R. E., Sullivan F. J. Superior vena caval obstruction secondary to fibrosing mediastinitis. Ann Thorac Surg. 1973 May;15(5):483–492. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(10)65335-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Scherck J. P., Kerstein M. D., Stansel H. C., Jr The current status of vena caval replacement. Surgery. 1974 Aug;76(2):209–233. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Soyer T., Lempinen M., Cooper P., Norton L., Eiseman B. A new venous prosthesis. Surgery. 1972 Dec;72(6):864–872. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Thorax are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES