Skip to main content
General Medicine

Inferior Vena Cava Syndrome

Frank J. Domino, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Inferior vena cava (IVC) syndrome is a constellation of signs and symptoms that arise from the disruption of blood flow from the IVC. IVC syndrome can be caused by a variety of patho...

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnosis is made clinically. The focus should be on identifying the underlying etiology (1). 

HISTORY

  • Patients may be asymptomatic or have few symptoms regardless of notable obstruction (1)...

TREATMENT

Treatment decisions should be guided by the underlying pathology with consideration of the risk and benefits provided by intervention (1). 

SURGERY/OTHER PROCEDURES

  • If IVC filter is the etiol...

ONGOING CARE

PROGNOSIS

Prognosis is dependent upon multiple factors and depends on the etiology of the IVC syndrome, the available interventions, hemodynamics and comorbid conditions of patient, and se...

REFERENCES

1
Klein-Weigel PF, Elitok S, Ruttloff A, et al. Inferior vena cava-syndrome. Vasa. 2021;50(4),250–264. doi: 10.1024/0301-1526/a000919 
2
Lawrensia S, Khan YS. (2022). Inferior vena cava syndro...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  •  IVC syndrome can be a life-threatening condition and requires prompt evaluation and intervention when indicated.  

  • There is a spectrum of etiologies, but the core concept is disruption...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

Sign Up for a 10-Day Free Trial

Sign up for a 10-day FREE Trial now and receive full access to all content.

START 10-DAY FREE TRIAL
Subscribe Now
GET CME/CE
 
©2025 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.
Enter an Access Code
Enter the code from your copy of The 5-Minute Clinical Consult or another access code to create an account.
Redeem
×