Dubai: Pakistani expat's 4-year health mystery solved – rare vein blockage

Dubai: Muhammad Bilal, a 27-year-old Pakistani expat, is relieved after ending a four-year struggle with Superior Vena Cava Syndrome (SVCS) – a rare and potentially fatal condition that severely restricts blood flow from the upper body to the heart.
An advanced, minimally invasive procedure performed at Aster Hospital in Mankhool successfully cleared a complete vein blockage and restored his circulation.

Rare diagnosis after years of suffering

Bilal, a Dubai resident, had been suffering from symptoms of SVCS since 2020. His condition began with swelling on the right side of his face and neck, which gradually spread to involve his eye and the entire face, along with the appearance of a swollen vein over his abdominal area. He experienced shortness of breath, severe headaches, and visibly enlarged veins across his neck, chest, and abdomen. Initially painless, the swelling eventually became painful and distressing. Despite multiple consultations at various hospitals in the UAE and Pakistan, his condition remained undiagnosed and untreated until he visited Aster Cedar Hospital and was referred to Dr Roshan Rodney S, Specialist Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon at Aster Hospital Mankhool.

Critical blockage identified

Upon clinical assessment and imaging scans, doctors confirmed a complete blockage in the superior vena cava – a major vein that carries blood from the upper body back to the heart. As a result, the body had started forming alternate blood flow channels to bypass the obstruction.

Minimally invasive procedure offers relief

To treat the blockage, Dr Rodney and his team opted for a minimally invasive vein procedure. Using advanced imaging tools, they performed balloon angioplasty and placed a self-expanding stent to open the blocked vein and restore normal blood flow to the heart.

“The vein was completely blocked, and the body had formed alternate routes to keep blood flowing,” Dr Rodney said. “With the support of our anaesthesia, cardiology, and ICU teams, we were able to restore blood flow seamlessly. The patient began to show significant symptom relief within hours of the procedure.”

Swift recovery, normal life resumed

The results were immediate and remarkable. By the following day, the swelling in Bilal’s face had significantly reduced, and the prominent veins on his neck and abdomen had disappeared. He is now recovering well, with follow-up scans confirming the stent is working properly and his condition continues to improve.

“I had been suffering for years, trying different hospitals and doctors, but no one could identify the problem,” Bilal noted.
“At Aster Hospital, I finally found answers. Dr Roshan immediately diagnosed my condition and provided the treatment I had been waiting for. The swelling is gone, the pain has stopped, and I feel like I can live normally again. The care I received from the doctors, nurses, and staff made me feel like I was with family. I’m so thankful to be able to return to my regular life.”

What is SVCS?

SVCS is most commonly caused by cancers such as lung cancer or lymphoma, which can press on or grow into the vein, this happens in about 70 per cent of cases. In around 30 per cent of cases, it’s linked to long-term use of medical devices like central venous catheters or pacemakers, which can damage the vein walls over time. A small number of cases (about 3-5 per cent) are related to genetic clotting disorders, where repeated blood clots cause scarring and narrowing of the vein. In extremely rare cases, such as Bilal’s, the cause remains unknown and is called idiopathic SVCS.