Prevention and treatment of vascular varicosities, edema and bruising of the upper extremities and face

  Upper limb and facial vascular varicosities, edema and bruising are symptoms of superior vena cava syndrome, also known as superior vena cava obstruction syndrome, which is a syndrome in which venous obstruction of the superior vena cava or its surrounding lesions causes obstruction of blood flow in the superior vena cava, resulting in varicose veins, edema and bruising in the upper limbs and face.  Patients with varicose veins, edema and bruising of the upper extremities and face should limit sodium and fluid intake. Diuretics are effective in relieving neck, face and upper extremity edema, and oxygen is also helpful in relieving respiratory distress. Glucocorticoids can reduce peritumor edema and inflammatory response due to radiation therapy, thus relieving dyspnea to some extent. Hypercapnia caused by hypoxia often increases blood viscosity and slows down the flow, which makes it easy to form thrombus, so anticoagulant drugs can be used appropriately, which is beneficial to prevent thrombus formation.  1.General treatment Patients should lie in bed, take the head high and foot low position and oxygen, reduce facial and upper trunk edema, oxygen can relieve temporary respiratory distress. Restriction of sodium intake and fluid intake can reduce edema. The use of diuretics can reduce the upper edema caused by obstruction and relieve the symptoms, tachyphylaxis or 20% mannitol can be used intravenously, and the effect can be poorly combined with the application of dihydrocortisone and ambien. Pay attention to the maintenance of volume and prevent hematoconcentration. Appropriate sedation and analgesia can help to reduce anxiety and discomfort. For severe dyspnea and elevated cranial pressure, dexamethasone and prednisone can inhibit the inflammatory response and thus reduce compression. After the symptoms are controlled, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be given to the primary tumor, and immunosuppressive therapy can be given to the surrounding inflammation and connective tissue disease.  2.Anticoagulation therapy is suitable for non-malignant causes of thrombosis, or for radiotherapy and chemotherapy with malignant causes. Anticoagulation and antithrombotic therapy are given on a symptomatic basis to help relieve symptoms. For thrombosis of superior vena cava due to venous catheter, anticoagulation alone can eliminate the obstruction.  3.Surgical treatment For benign lesions leading to superior vena cava syndrome and rapid deterioration of symptoms, resection of the mass, superior vena cava release, superior vena cava angioplasty, etc. are feasible to improve the superior vena cava obstruction. For malignant tumor invasion or compression with severe symptoms and no distant metastasis, and life extension is expected after resection, resection of the primary tumor together with superior vena cava can be considered, and at the same time, depending on the extent of defect of superior vena cava, autologous vascular patch or artificial vascular repair should be performed, and bypass diversion should be established if the defect is large. For those with large invasion of malignant tumor, distant metastasis and short expected survival time, palliative treatment such as venous stent implantation or establishment of bypass vessels can be given to solve the problem of increased cranial pressure, suffocation of the face and neck and difficulty in breathing caused by obstruction.