ABSTRACT
Anatomy and pathophysiology Obstruction of caval veins is rare, and usually iatrogenic. Any surgical procedure involving the caval veins, including cannulation for bypass, may be complicated with caval vein obstruction. It was a common complication of the Mustard operation during early and long term follow-up, with restrictive venous pathways in the majority of the patients.1,2
It has been described after a Senning type procedure, after a Glenn shunt or other cavopulmonary connections, after transplantation with structure of the anastomosis,3 or after repair of abnormal pulmonary venous return with subdivision of the superior caval vein (SCV).
