[A temporary extracorporeal cavo-caval shunt in the treatment of malignant mediastinal tumors complicated by compression of the superior vena cava].

Gamma-ray teletherapy remains the mainstay in the treatment of mediastinal malignancies complicated by superior vena caval compression. However, patients presenting with severe circulatory disorders die of hypoxia before the effect of radiotherapy sets in. Temporary extracorporeal cava-caval shunt is intended to release blood from the vena cava superior network and then to return it back to the heart by vena cava inferior. The shunt obviates fatal consequences of circulatory disorders and supports the patient until radiotherapy starts to pick up. The method was successfully tested in 7 patients.