First‐in‐human experience with occlusion of the superior vena cava to reduce cardiac filling pressures in congestive heart failure

Abstract

We report the first clinical experience with transient SVC occlusion as a potentially new therapeutic approach to rapidly reduce cardiac filling pressures in heart failure. No prohibitive safety signal was identified and further testing to establish the clinical utility of transient SVC occlusion for acute decompensated heart failure is justified.