TreatmentTherapy

As frightening as the symptoms of the vena cava compression syndrome may sound, the acute treatment of the clinical picture is usually simple, at least for pregnant women – if the cause of the space requirement is different, the therapy can be more extensive and require a surgical intervention. Since the symptoms in pregnant women mainly occur in the supine position, and thus the entire weight of the uterus and the child rests on the inferior vena cava, a slight lateral position is usually sufficient. Due to the anatomical conditions, the patient should be turned to the left side.

The inferior vena cava runs close to the spinal column on the right side of the body. In a left lateral position, the vessel is thus relieved and the symptoms should disappear almost immediately. Often this tip alone is enough to make further treatment unnecessary.

The pregnant woman often notices on her own when the symptoms begin and can then turn to the side on her own. In addition to the expectant mother, the environment should also be trained in this respect. For example, the father can also actively intervene if the pregnant woman faints.

If the rearrangement does not bring about a relevant improvement of the condition, an emergency doctor must be alerted immediately. The patient is then admitted to the nearest intensive care unit, where an attempt is made to stabilize the circulation by administering fluids. In rare cases, a caesarean section must be performed to protect the mother.

As already described, the left-sided position is the therapy of choice for vena cava compression syndrome. The inferior vena cava lies on the right side of the abdomen next to the spine. To relieve the strain, therefore, a positioning on the opposite side must be performed.

The patient only has to turn or roll from her back to the left side. An inclination of about 45 degrees is often sufficient. To ensure that the position is still comfortable and the sleeping position stable, a 90 degree rotation can of course also be performed.

There are also special side sleeper pillows that many pregnant women have to use anyway because of the problems with a baby’s tummy in bed. In addition, a pillow or blanket can also be placed in the back so that the affected person does not roll back again during the night. Due to this relatively simple procedure, the vena cava compression syndrome can remain symptom-free in many cases. However, it must always be borne in mind that immediate relief from the compression syndrome cannot always be expected and a doctor must be contacted immediately in such cases.