[A case report of superior vena cava reconstruction using a heparin-coated temporary bypass tube]

A 56-year-old woman with stage IIIB (c-T1N3M0) small cell lung cancer was treated with combination chemotherapy (CAVE). After five cycles of chemotherapy a surgical resection was performed. As mediastinal lymph nodes (#2, 3, 3a) had invaded to the superior vena cava, a heparin-coated tube was inserted into the left innominate vein and the right auricular appendage as a temporary bypass. Advantages of a heparin-coated tube for the temporary SVC bypass are as follows. 1) simple operative procedure. 2) enough flexibility to be kept out of the operative field. 3) no need for anticoagulants, consequently less bleeding resulted.