A case report on superior vena cava syndrome in pregnancy

Superior vena cava syndrome is a fatal condition which occurs in the late pregnancy. A G P L A , Rh negative woman at 26 weeks was admitted antenatally with symptoms of dyspnea. Cough. She was found Gram Negative bacillus Proteus positive and was treated with intravenous antibiotics for lower respiratory tract infection. After 2 months she again reported to the hospital with complaints of facial puffiness, bilateral crepts, facial edema, cough, dyspnea and subsequently with full dilatation of cervical os. She was admitted immediately and her BP was 140/80 mmHg, Hb – 8.7gm/dl. She delivered alive girl baby through assisted breech delivery. Baby cried immediately after birth and neonatal period uneventful. Intranatally she survived atonic PPH and was managed medically. Her postnatal period was complicated with anemia, shortness of breath, facial flushing, bilateral wheeze and calf muscle pain. Chest X ray showed mild pleural effusion. Her Doppler revealed normal vessels and ECHO reflected with EF 28%. She was diagnosed with superior vena cava syndrome and treated for the same. The patient survived with CPAP and high-end antibiotics. Superior vena cava syndrome is a fatal condition and has rare occurrence in pregnancy. Prompt diagnosis, rigorous and collaborative team management are very essential to save the patient's life.