Upper Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis

Much attention is paid to lower-extremity deep venous thrombosis and its untoward short- and long-term sequelae. However, upper-extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT) can be equally disabling and even life threatening, as in cases of superior vena cava syndrome. The mainstay of therapy for UEDVT is anticoagulation. In selected cases catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy may be needed to (1) rapidly remove the extensive thrombus, (2) reveal the underlying causative lesion, and (3) guide its appropriate treatment.