Definition
The vena cava compression syndrome is classically a complication during pregnancy, which can occur especially towards the end. The child in the uterus presses on the inferior vena cava, the great inferior vena cava. Its function in our body is to ensure the return of blood from the legs and abdominal organs.
If the vein is squeezed by the weight of the child, the first consequence is that the amount of blood that reaches the heart drops rapidly. This then leads to various circulatory problems, but these can usually be quickly resolved by repositioning the expectant mother. Even though vena cava compression syndrome is not usually a serious complication, affected women should be informed and the environment should be informed in appropriate emergency situations. Even if it is not the norm, vein occlusion can be life-threatening for both mother and child. The following topic could also be of interest to you: complications and dizziness during pregnancy
Causes
The cause of vena cava compression syndrome is in most cases pregnancy. Especially in the last three months, the baby grows to a stately size and gains more and more weight. The uterus expands and increasingly displaces the surrounding organs and structures – possibly including the inferior vena cava.
Veins are by nature rather elastic and thin-walled. Unlike the arteries, in which the oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood flows to supply the body, they can be easily compressed. Furthermore, the blood pressure in the veins is many times lower than in the arterial system.
All these factors contribute to the fact that the vessel can already be squeezed by a baby’s weight. In rare cases, no child is the cause of a vena cava compression syndrome, for example when a man suffers from a corresponding symptomatology. Other structures can also press on the inferior vena cava. These include any spatial demands in the abdominal cavity, such as cysts, abscesses, organ enlargements in the context of specific diseases, an abdominal aortic aneurysm or a growing tumor. If the clinical picture of a vena cava compression syndrome appears, a doctor should always be consulted first to clarify the exact cause.
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