Superior vena cava repair with left brachiocephalic vein flap

Interposition with a vascular prosthesis or patch closure using autologous pericardium has been applied for superior vena cava (SVC) reconstruction during surgery for thoracic malignancies such as thymic epithelial tumors or lymphadenopathy that invade the SVC. We herein report a novel and simple method for repair of the SVC using a left brachiocephalic vein flap. This procedure is useful to repair the anterior wall of the distal portion of the SVC, which is a common site of invasion of thoracic malignancies.