Central veins carry blood from the arms, head, and upper body back to the heart. When these veins become narrowed or blocked, blood flow can be restricted, causing swelling, discomfort, and circulation problems.Central venous angioplasty and stenting are minimally invasive, image-guided procedures that may help restore blood flow through affected veins.
Consultant, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
Central venous obstruction occurs when a major vein becomes narrowed or blocked, making it difficult for blood to return to the heart. These veins include the central veins in the chest and the veins that drain blood from the arms and upper body.The condition may develop due to previous central venous catheter placement, long-term dialysis access, blood clots, external compression, or changes in the vein wall. Patients receiving hemodialysis may develop central venous narrowing after repeated catheter use, which can affect the function of their dialysis access.
Angioplasty is a catheter-based procedure used to widen a narrowed vein. A thin catheter with a small balloon is guided through the blood vessels to the affected area using imaging guidance. The balloon is inflated to enlarge the narrowed section and improve blood flow.
In some cases, a stent—a small expandable mesh tube—is placed inside the vein to help keep it open. Stenting may be considered when the narrowing is severe, when the vein recoils after angioplasty, or when the clinical situation suggests that additional support may improve the result.
Dr. Anadi Gupta, MD, FVIR, EBIR, is a Consultant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital with a focus on vascular and endovascular interventions.His areas of practice include central venous angioplasty and stenting, dialysis access interventions, DVT thrombectomy and catheter-directed thrombolysis, IVC filter insertion and retrieval, peripheral arterial angioplasty and stenting, and other selected vascular procedures.
Get your condition evaluated and explore suitable treatment options for central venous obstruction with Dr. Anadi Gupta, Consultant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.