Anesthetic Management in a Patient With Type A Aortic Dissection and Superior Vena Cava Syndrome

Induction of general anesthesia in patients with superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome may cause airway obstruction and cardiovascular collapse.

Herein, we introduced a patient with the diagnosis of dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta who was candidate for emergency surgery. He also had symptoms of SVC syndrome. To maintain airway patency during anesthetic management, we decided to perform femoro-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass followed by general anesthesia and tracheal intubation.

Femoro-femoral bypass prior to initiation of sternotomy is a safe and easy method in patients with aortic dissection and SVC syndrome in whom earlier endotracheal intubation may not be feasible.