What is the role of the inferior vena cava?
The inferior vena cava carries blood from the legs, feet, and organs in the abdomen and pelvis. The vena cava is the largest vein in the body.
What happens if the inferior vena cava is blocked?
A blockage in the inferior vena cava (IVC) can lead to chronic leg swelling, pain, and immobility, according to the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) IVC Filter Clinic. There may be other health complications depending on a person’s age and preexisting medical conditions.
What forms the inferior vena cava?
The inferior vena cava (IVC) is a large retroperitoneal vessel formed by the confluence of the right and left common iliac veins. Anatomically this usually occurs at the L5 vertebral level.
Which veins drain into inferior vena cava?
Because the inferior vena cava is located to the right of the midline, drainage of the tributaries is not always symmetrical. On the right, the gonadal veins and suprarenal veins drain into the inferior vena cava directly. On the left, they drain into the renal vein which in turn drains into the inferior vena cava.
Can you live without an inferior vena cava?
In patients without an IVC, there is blood supply to the leg but no drainage. Those who suffer symptoms are usually put on blood thinners, told to wear compression socks, and sent home to live with what can become a debilitating condition. Others may undergo an invasive surgery to try to correct the condition.
Is the vena cava part of the heart?
Where is the vena cava located? Your inferior vena cava and superior vena cava are both on your heart’s right side. Your right and left innominate (or brachiocephalic) veins merge to form your superior vena cava.
Can you live without your inferior vena cava?
What are the symptoms of inferior vena cava syndrome?
Inferior vena cava syndrome (IVCS) is characterized by tachycardia, hypotension, tachypnea, hypoxemia, and shortness of breath. The differential diagnosis of IVCS is broad, mainly because it is rarely ever diagnosed as a primary disease process.
Where is vena cava located?
Your inferior vena cava and superior vena cava are both on your heart’s right side. Your right and left innominate (or brachiocephalic) veins merge to form your superior vena cava. Your superior vena cava is next to the right side of your sternum and goes into your right atrium, where all the oxygen-poor blood goes.
What type of blood does the vena cava carry?
The inferior and superior vena cava bring oxygen-poor blood from the body into the right atrium. The pulmonary artery carries oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle into the lungs, where oxygen enters the bloodstream. The pulmonary veins bring oxygen-rich blood to the left atrium.
Is the vena cava a vein or artery?
The vena cava are the two largest veins that carry blood into the right upper chamber of the heart (the right atrium).
Is the vena cava on the right or left?
right
Your inferior vena cava and superior vena cava are both on your heart’s right side. Your right and left innominate (or brachiocephalic) veins merge to form your superior vena cava. Your superior vena cava is next to the right side of your sternum and goes into your right atrium, where all the oxygen-poor blood goes.
What happens when vena cava is compressed?
Superior vena cava syndrome is most often caused by compression of the vein (the superior vena cava), that returns blood from the upper body back to the right atrium of the heart by the tumor. Symptoms include swelling of the face and arms associated with shortness of breath.
How is inferior vena cava syndrome treated?
The treatment of vena cava compression syndromes commonly involves stenting or radiation. Expandable metallic stents have been used to treat IVC compression caused by hepatic tumors [11]. Tumors that compress the SVC, such as lung cancer, are generally radiosensitive [12].
What does it feel like when vena cava is compressed?
Superior vena cava syndrome is the name given to the symptoms that occur when the blood flow through the superior vena cava is blocked or compressed. These symptoms include breathing problems, lightheadedness, and swelling in the upper body.
Can you live without a vena cava?
Is vena cava a vein or artery?
What is the vena cava? The superior vena cava and inferior vena cava are very large veins that bring deoxygenated blood to your heart to get oxygen. Your inferior vena cava, your body’s largest vein, carries oxygen-depleted blood back to your heart from the lower part of your body (below your diaphragm).
Can May-Thurner go away?
While there is no “cure” for May-Thurner Syndrome, it can be treated successfully to relieve symptoms. Most procedures are minimally invasive.
How is vena cava treated?
How is superior vena cava syndrome treated?
- Radiation therapy.
- Chemotherapy.
- Thrombolysis (breaking up blood clots).
- Stent placement.
- Medicines to ease symptoms.
Which side is the vena cava on?
right side
How big is the vena cava?
The superior vena cava is a large (measures . 78 inches in diameter and 2.7 inches in length.), significant vein responsible for returning deoxygenated blood collected from the body back into the heart. The superior vena cava starts at the lower border of the first costal cartilage.