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Updated: May 2, 2026

Electrolytic Inferior Vena Cava Model EIM of Venous Thrombosis
Published on: July 12, 2011
Isolated central venous pressure elevation caused by hematoma formation compressing the superior vena cava following
Young Song1, Jeesuk Sim1, Sai Ju Seo1
1Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Anesthesia and Pain Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
We present a case of a patient exhibiting isolated elevation of the central venous pressure with minimal hemodynamic deterioration in an immediate postoperative period after Bentall operation requiring re-exploration. Isolated elevation of the central venous pressure usually alerts physicians of a volume overload or right ventricular dysfunction. However, even in the absence of significant hemodynamic deterioration, the development of loculated hematoma that compresses the superior vena cava should be ruled out, as it can be life-threatening through the formation of cerebral and laryngeal edema, similar to superior vena cava syndrome. This case emphasizes the importance of a prompt differential diagnosis of the isolated central venous pressure elevation after cardiac surgery with transesophageal echocardiography for the administration of appropriate treatment.
We present a case of a patient exhibiting isolated elevation of the central venous pressure with minimal hemodynamic deterioration in an immediate postoperative period after Bentall operation requiring re-exploration. Isolated elevation of the central venous pressure usually alerts physicians of a volume overload or right ventricular dysfunction. However, even in the absence of significant hemodynamic deterioration, the development of loculated hematoma that compresses the superior vena cava should be ruled out, as it can be life-threatening through the formation of cerebral and laryngeal edema, similar to superior vena cava syndrome. This case emphasizes the importance of a prompt differential diagnosis of the isolated central venous pressure elevation after cardiac surgery with transesophageal echocardiography for the administration of appropriate treatment.
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