Osmosis video - Superior vena cava syndrome

Superior vena cava syndrome is a condition caused by blood flow obstruction in the superior vena cava, most commonly from a tumor causing external compression, but it can also be from thrombosis. Symptoms of SVCS include swelling of the face, neck, and chest; difficulty breathing; and a bluish discoloration of the skin. Treatment involves removing the cause of the blockage, but in the meantime, it's important to ensure that a person's head is kept above the level of the heart because gravity can help drain fluid from the head and neck back towards the heart.