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Have Emphasema And COPD. Having Dark Veins In Armpits. What Could Cause This?
Question: I have dark veins in my armpits what could cause this?
I have a clot in my superior vena cava from a catheter. I swell up in my face arms legs mid section. Given lasix to get rid of fluid. But what can be done about this? Stent......bypass? I also have emphasema and COPD. What should my doctors be doing.
I have a clot in my superior vena cava from a catheter. I swell up in my face arms legs mid section. Given lasix to get rid of fluid. But what can be done about this? Stent......bypass? I also have emphasema and COPD. What should my doctors be doing.
Hello XXXXXX
Thank you for your query.
I understand that you have thrombotic obstruction of the superior vena cava due to an indwelling catheter. The swelling of the face is due to the venous obstruction.
Since you have emphysema, it would be better to think of an interventional procedure rather than an open surgery.
A fresh clot might dissolve with local infusion of a lytic drug. But there is a risk of pulmonary thrombo-embolism. Also, more mature clots will not get resolved.
So, it may be better to see if an angioplasty and if required, stenting of the lesion can be done. Stenting may not be needed in all cases. Balloon angioplasty alone might be sufficient in most cases. Following the procedure, you will also need to take anticoagulant drugs for a long time to prevent blood from clotting.
However, the feasibility of doing such a procedure will depend on the exact findings during the diagnostic angiogram. There are also the risks of pulmonary embolism during the procedure and of recurrence of the problem later.
I hope this answers your query. Feel free to ask me for any further clarifications.
Regards,
Dr Raja Sekhar Varma, MD, DM
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist
Thank you for your query.
I understand that you have thrombotic obstruction of the superior vena cava due to an indwelling catheter. The swelling of the face is due to the venous obstruction.
Since you have emphysema, it would be better to think of an interventional procedure rather than an open surgery.
A fresh clot might dissolve with local infusion of a lytic drug. But there is a risk of pulmonary thrombo-embolism. Also, more mature clots will not get resolved.
So, it may be better to see if an angioplasty and if required, stenting of the lesion can be done. Stenting may not be needed in all cases. Balloon angioplasty alone might be sufficient in most cases. Following the procedure, you will also need to take anticoagulant drugs for a long time to prevent blood from clotting.
However, the feasibility of doing such a procedure will depend on the exact findings during the diagnostic angiogram. There are also the risks of pulmonary embolism during the procedure and of recurrence of the problem later.
I hope this answers your query. Feel free to ask me for any further clarifications.
Regards,
Dr Raja Sekhar Varma, MD, DM
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
The clot in my SVC has been there for three years when it was found I had pulmonary embolism and a clot in the right atrium I underwent three separate angioplastys the clot in the heart is was gon by the third angioplasty. I have been on lovonox for the rest of this time with no improvement to the clot in my SVC. All. Of a sudden after three years I suddennly am anemic but they. Can't figure out why I have a dry cough shortness of breath back pain in my lower back. Went in with congestive heart falure. I can't seem to stay awake I am tired all the time blood pressure bouncing all around. I can't seem to get my Addison's to calm down constantly throwing up. Dr said That he thinks the right side of my heart is not working correct. They did a cat scan with def put me on lasix iron and potassium and is sending me for an echo. What is going on? What should be done? Could my Addison's act up cause a heart problem giveing me percosious anemia. If the right side of my heart is having trouble then what?
Hello,
Thank you for your reply.
Multiple episodes of pulmonary embolism (both recognized and unrecognized) can lead to an increase of pressures in the pulmonary artery (pulmonary hypertension). This leads to a strain of the right side of the heart leading to an enlargement of the right atrium and right ventricle.
An echo of the heart will help to confirm these happenings.
Treatment would include a diuretic and sometimes specific drugs like bosentan/ambrisentan, and drugs to prevent blood from clotting (oral anticoagulants). The cause for the recurrent blood clotting in SVC should be identified and tackled.
Since anemia can worsen the heart failure, it needs to be corrected aggressively. The exact cause and type of anemia should be identified and addressed. When you have been taking an anticoagulant like Lovenox, it is possible that there has been some unintentional blood loss which might be responsible for the anemia.
The symptoms that you have described could be due to the anemia and also due to pulmonary hypertension.
Your endocrinologist should be able to easily evaluate your adrenal function and the status of Addison's. An adjustment of the medicines can be done after that to settle that issue, if at all needed.
I hope this answers your query. Kindly accept my answer if there are no further clarifications needed. I wish you all the best for a healthy life.
With regards,
Dr Raja Sekhar Varma,
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist
Thank you for your reply.
Multiple episodes of pulmonary embolism (both recognized and unrecognized) can lead to an increase of pressures in the pulmonary artery (pulmonary hypertension). This leads to a strain of the right side of the heart leading to an enlargement of the right atrium and right ventricle.
An echo of the heart will help to confirm these happenings.
Treatment would include a diuretic and sometimes specific drugs like bosentan/ambrisentan, and drugs to prevent blood from clotting (oral anticoagulants). The cause for the recurrent blood clotting in SVC should be identified and tackled.
Since anemia can worsen the heart failure, it needs to be corrected aggressively. The exact cause and type of anemia should be identified and addressed. When you have been taking an anticoagulant like Lovenox, it is possible that there has been some unintentional blood loss which might be responsible for the anemia.
The symptoms that you have described could be due to the anemia and also due to pulmonary hypertension.
Your endocrinologist should be able to easily evaluate your adrenal function and the status of Addison's. An adjustment of the medicines can be done after that to settle that issue, if at all needed.
I hope this answers your query. Kindly accept my answer if there are no further clarifications needed. I wish you all the best for a healthy life.
With regards,
Dr Raja Sekhar Varma,
Consultant Interventional Cardiologist
Note: click here to Consult a cardiac surgeon online. to know the best treatment option for your heart-related issues
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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