Benign vena cava superior syndrome in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices: Presentation and management.

Venous occlusion that affects the subclavian or innominate vein is a common problem in cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) patients, with a reported range between 3% and 5%.1 In contrast, occlusion of the superior vena cava (SVC) not associated with malignancy (thus termed “benign”) is a rare condition (incidence 0.03%–0.15%) that causes a clinical syndrome of upper extremity and face swelling, pleural effusions, orthostatic hypotension, and collateral circulation and might even give rise to life-threatening complications if undetected, as illustrated by this case report.2,3