Relief of superior vena caval syndrome with autologous femoral vein used as a bypass graft.

Two patients presenting with superior venal caval syndrome have been treated surgically. In one patient the obstruction was caused by benign idiopathic mediastinal fibrosis; in the other it was secondary to carcinoma. In both cases venous decompression was achieved by using a segment of autogenous femoral vein to bypass the obstruction.