Antegrade balloon occlusion of inferior vena cava during thrombectomy for renal cell carcinoma

Nephrectomy with inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombectomy for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a challenging and morbid surgical case. We describe the use of a simple endoluminal technique to occlude the suprahepatic IVC during thrombectomy. A 60-year-old male presented with a large right-sided RCC and IVC tumour thrombus. The tip of the thrombus, which was non-adherent to the caval wall, extended to the level of the hepatic veins. After complete dissection of the kidney, we obtained suprahepatic control of the IVC by a large compliant balloon, introduced through the right internal jugular vein and inflated just below the level of the diaphragm. The IVC thrombectomy was performed in a bloodless field. Mean blood pressure remained stable during IVC balloon inflation with a total occlusion time of 10 minutes. Intraprocedural completion cavogram and postoperative Doppler ultrasonography showed no residual IVC clot. Blood loss during the thrombectomy portion of the case was scant. The patient’s postoperative course was uncomplicated and, at the last follow-up, he had stable metastatic disease on sunitinib therapy. For the surgical treatment of RCC with retrohepatic IVC tumour extension, transjugular balloon occlusion of the suprahepatic IVC offers an alternative to extensive hepatic mobilization to obtain suprahepatic thrombus control. Advantages over traditional surgical methods may include decreased surgical time, lower risk of liver injury and tumour embolism. We suggest this method for further evaluation.     

Resection of inferior vena cava tumor thrombi from renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma is an unusual cancer with the propensity to invade not only the renal vein but to propagate into the inferior vena cava (IVC) as a tumor thrombus. Experience has recently confirmed that MRI will be valuable in evaluating the extent of the tumor thrombus. The surgical techniques used to remove the thrombus are dependent on the extent of the cancer. For lesions involving the infrahepatic IVC, only proximal and distal control of the IVC are necessary. For a thrombus involving the intrahepatic IVC, isolation of the suprahepatic IVC, hepatic circulation, and infrahepatic IVC or cardiopulmonary bypass can be used. For the large thrombus in the supradiaphragmatic IVC or atrium, cardiopulmonary bypass either with or without deep hypothermic circulatory arrest is appropriate. In a review of 48 cases with renal cell carcinoma with IVC tumor thrombi, the tumor thrombus was removed intact in 58 per cent and in multiple fragments ("piece-meal") in 42 per cent of the patients. Cardiac bypass has been used in 26 cases with 22 undergoing deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. The postoperative mortality of 48 cases between 1965 and 1987 was 4 per cent. Removal of the most complicated and extensive renal cell carcinoma tumor thrombi is now technically feasible. In patients with large tumor thrombi, however, the ultimate outlook remains poor in the absence of effective systemic adjuvant therapy.     

经皮球囊导管阻断技术在下腔静脉瘤栓切除术中的应用

目的 探讨经皮球囊导管阻断技术在下腔静脉瘤栓切除术中的应用价值. 方法 经CT、MRI及彩色多普勒超声等检查确诊为肾或肾上腺肿瘤合并肝后型或肝下型下腔静脉瘤栓患者12例.男7例,女5例.年龄20～76岁,平均51岁.右侧肿瘤11例,左侧1例.肾肿瘤11例,肾上腺肿瘤1例.12例均于术前经皮穿刺右侧颈内静脉,于瘤栓近心端下腔静脉内预置一球囊导管,术中经导管充盈球囊阻断下腔静脉后,再行下腔静脉瘤栓切除术. 结果 12例肿瘤合并下腔静脉瘤栓的根治性切除术全部完成.手术时间210～670 min,平均324 min.术中出血量600～7960 ml,平均2563 ml.无手术或围手术期死亡.术后患者恢复良好,肝肾功能正常,无并发症发生.术后平均12(9～15)d出院.术后病理报告:肾细胞癌9例,转移性肝细胞癌1例,良性血管平滑肌脂肪瘤1例,肾上腺平滑肌肉瘤1例.肾癌术后TNM分期:T3b N0M08例,T3bNxM11例.术后平均随访(21±10)个月,中位随访时间24个月.4例分别于术后6、9、15、22个月死于肺转移、肝转移及肝癌复发,其余8例术后已存活6～35个月,平均26个月.9例肾癌患者术后1、3年肿瘤特异生存率分别为78%和67%. 结论 经皮球囊导管阻断技术在低位肝后型或肝下型下腔静脉瘤栓的根治性切除术中是一种安全、简便、有效的方法,具有重要的临床应用价值.     

Endoluminal occlusion of the inferior vena cava in renal cell carcinoma with retro- or suprahepatic caval thrombus

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate endoluminal occlusion of the inferior vena cava (IVC) during surgical treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with either retrohepatic (level II) or suprahepatic (level III) caval tumour thrombus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2000 to February 2005, 31 patients with renal vein/IVC involvement (T3b/c) of 278 who had a radical nephrectomy, were selected for review. Of these 31, 13 consecutive patients with RCC presenting a thrombus level II or III were prospectively treated with endoluminal occlusion of the free IVC cranial to the thrombus, to avoid dissection of the suprahepatic IVC or the subdiaphragmatic IVC. The occlusion balloon was positioned using transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) control through a cavotomy at the ostium of the renal vein. Thrombectomy and radical nephrectomy were then performed. The operative duration, peri-operative bleeding, and complications during and after surgery were assessed. Overall patient survival time, disease-free survival and development of metastasis were calculated. RESULTS: Caval thrombectomy was successful in all patients. The IVC needed to be replaced with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft in three patients and a patch closure after lateral cavectomy was used in four. There was no case of air embolism. One case of asymptomatic tumour migration was detected during the procedure by TEE. The mean (sd) and median (range) operative duration was 170 (29) and 170 (120-210) min, and the mean number of units of packed red cells transfused during hospitalization was 5 (5) and 3 (0-16). There was no peri-operative mortality. The complications were one splenectomy and one early thrombosis of the IVC. The mean (range) follow-up was 22.1 (2-50) months. Distant metastases occurred in seven patients; there was no local or IVC tumour recurrence. Four patients died from metastatic progression and six are alive with no progression. CONCLUSION: Endoluminal occlusion of the IVC with TEE monitoring for level II and III thrombus avoided a suprahepatic or subdiaphragmatic approach to the IVC. This technique caused no major complications and was very reliable, due to TEE monitoring. Segmental resection and reconstruction of the IVC could also be used for adherent thrombi.     

Surgical strategy for treating renal cell carcinoma with thrombus extending into the inferior vena cava

OBJECTIVE: A surgical strategy for treating malignant renal tumors with thrombus extending into the inferior vena cava (IVC) was assessed. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records for all patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC; n=30) or Wilms tumor (n=1) with tumor thrombus extending into the IVC who underwent surgical intervention at our institution between January 1980 and December 2001. Tumors were classified preoperatively according to the cephalad extension of thrombus, and intraoperative procedures were selected on the basis of degree of extension. Patients with RCC underwent radical nephrectomy and removal of thrombus with (n=11) or without (n=19) IVC resection. Partial normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass without cardiac arrest was used in 4 patients. The Pringle maneuver was performed in 8 patients. Infrarenal abdominal aortic cross-clamping was used in 8 patients to maintain systemic blood pressure. IVC cross-clamping and the Pringle maneuver were performed in 5 patients with suprahepatic thrombus extension. Temporary placement of a filter in the IVC or plication of the IVC above the hepatic vein was performed before hepatic mobilization, to decrease the risk for pulmonary embolism. RESULTS: One patient died intraoperatively of pulmonary embolism. Postoperative complications occurred in 11 patients; all resolved with conservative therapy. The postoperative duration of survival in patients with RCC was 37 +/- 44 months (range, 4-180 months); the 5-year survival rate was 42%. CONCLUSION: Aortic cross-clamping during IVC occlusion prevented hypotension and maintained hemodynamic stability that has required bypass in other series. This surgical treatment with the less extensive approach could result in long-term survival of patients with RCC in whom tumor thrombus extends into the IVC. We recommend that radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy, with or without caval resection, be performed in these patients, with less invasive additional maneuvers.     

Results of endoluminal occlusion of the inferior vena cava during radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy

BACKGROUND: The surgical management of renal tumours with thrombi in the inferior vena cava (IVC) has become the gold standard treatment. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate endoluminal occlusion of the IVC during radical nephrectomy with either retrohepatic (level II) or suprahepatic (level III) caval tumour thrombus. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: From January 2000 to October 2007, 28 consecutive patients with renal cell carcinoma presenting a thrombus level II or III were treated with endoluminal occlusion of the free IVC cranial. SURGICAL PROCEDURE: The occlusion balloon was positioned under transesophageal echography (TEE) control through a cavotomy performed at the level of the renal vein ostium. Thrombectomy and radical nephrectomy were then performed. MEASUREMENTS: Operative time, perioperative bleeding, and pre- and postoperative complications were assessed. Overall patient survival time, disease-free survival, and development of metastasis were assessed. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Caval thrombectomy was performed successfully in all patients. IVC replacement with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft or patch closure after lateral cavectomy was performed in 10 and 4 patients, respectively. Average operative time was 160min (range: 120-210). There was no perioperative mortality. The complications were one splenectomy and one early thrombosis of the IVC. Mean length of follow-up was 22.1 mo (range: 3-90). There was no local or IVC tumour recurrence. Cause-specific death and metastasis occurred in six (21.4%) and nine patients (32.1%), respectively. Thirteen patients (46.4%) are disease-free. CONCLUSIONS: Endoluminal occlusion of the IVC with TEE monitoring for level II and III thrombus avoided a suprahepatic or subdiaphragmatic approach of the IVC. Segmental resection and reconstruction of the IVC could also be performed in case of adherent thrombi.     

Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography for inferior vena caval tumor thrombus in renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: We investigated the advantages of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during inferior vena caval tumor thrombectomy in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). METHODS: Five patients with RCC that extended into the inferior vena cava (IVC) underwent radical nephrectomy. To remove the tumor thrombus in the IVC, an inflated Fogarty balloon catheter was used to pull the thrombus below the level of the hepatic veins with real-time TEE monitoring. RESULTS: In all cases, TEE monitoring during surgery provided an accurate and excellent view of the IVC thrombus. TEE was particularly helpful for the thrombectomy to minimize hepatic mobilization by using occlusion balloon catheter in two patients whose thrombus extended to the intrahepatic IVC. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative real-time TEE monitoring is a safe, minimally invasive technique that can provide accurate information regarding the presence and extent of IVC involvement, guidance for placement of a vena caval clamp, confirmation of complete removal of the IVC thrombus and intervention using catheters to assist in thrombectomy.     

Foley尿管在肾癌合并下腔静脉癌栓中的应用

目的探讨应用Foley尿管在肾癌合并下腔静脉癌栓肾癌根治术时取出癌栓的效果。方法2001年10月~2008年6月收治肾癌合并腔静脉癌栓患者15例,肾癌根治术术中应用Foley尿管取出癌栓11例,其中Ⅲ型癌栓5例,Ⅳ型癌栓6例。术中先游离肾脏及肾动、静脉,结扎肾动脉,游离出对侧肾静脉及癌栓上下的腔静脉并阻断,在患肾对侧的腔静脉壁纵行剪开3~4 cm,插入Foley尿管,气囊内注入20 mL生理盐水,用Foley尿管将癌栓牵出腔静脉外,取下患肾和癌栓,阻断腔静脉进行缝合。结果11例手术顺利,全部将癌栓完整取出,手术时间3~5 h,出血量200~1 000 mL。结论肾癌合并腔静脉癌栓在肾癌根治术中用Foley尿管取出癌栓可避免开胸或体外循环,减少手术损伤,疗效良好。     

Treatment of inferior vena cava obstruction producing Budd-Chiari syndrome

We treated a patient who had an inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction associated with Budd-Chiari syndrome. All of the right, middle, and left hepatic veins were completely obstructed. The IVC was obstructed by a membranous substance and thrombus at the hepatic portion and was completely occluded by a fibrous septum at the site of a suprahepatic coarctation. A cavotomy was performed transversely at the suprahepatic level and then longitudinally to the level just above the renal veins, and the obstructing tissue was removed. An additional vertical incision was made in the IVC over the coarctation, and an autologous pericardial patch was sutured in place to widen the IVC. The patient was discharged with the patency of the IVC restored.     

Thrombectomy before hepatic resection for hepatocellular carcinoma with a tumor thrombus extending to the inferior vena cava

Tumor thrombi of hepatocellular carcinoma occasionally invade into the inferior vena cava (IVC) through the hepatic vein. Once the tumor thrombus is dislodged, severe and lethal complications, such as pulmonary infarction, can develop. We successfully operated on a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient with a tumor thrombus extending to the IVC through the right hepatic vein. To avoid dislodging the thrombus during surgery, a thrombectomy using selective hepatic vascular exclusion was performed before a hepatic resection, which is the most dangerous procedure to dislodge the thrombus.     

Transabdominal Surgical Approach in the Management of Renal Tumors Involving the Retrohepatic Inferior Vena Cava

Multiple reports over the last decade have documented the clear superiority of surgery over other alternative treatments in the management of renal cell carcinoma with extension into the inferior vena cava (IVC). Controversy persists, however, regarding the management of tumor thrombus that extends retrohepatically, but not entering the right atrium. In this report, we retrospectively review our experience with the use of a feasible transabdominal technique without any form of bypass or anticoagulation for safe removal of renal tumor involving the retrohepatic IVC. From 1988 to 1998, 132 patients with renal cell carcinoma underwent radical nephrectomies at the urology service of our hospital. Five patients (3.8%) had retrohepatic venous extension through the renal vein into the IVC. Our transabdominal approach was accomplished by complete mobilization of the liver, control of the hepatocaval connection, total vascular exclusion of the IVC without heparin administration, removal of the tumor thrombus, and primary closure of the longitudinal vena cavotomy. From our results, we found the transabdominal approach with total vascular exclusion of the IVC to be satisfactory, with no early deaths, acceptable morbidity, and a remarkable limitation of blood loss and transfusion requirements.     

肝癌合并下腔静脉癌栓的外科治疗

目的总结7例肝癌合并下腔静脉（inferior vena cava,IVC）癌栓患者的手术方法及治疗经验。方法自2003年7月至2005年5月,我们为7例肝癌合并IVC癌栓的患者实施了肝癌切除及右心房和（或）IVC切开取栓手术。所有患者均采用全肝血流阻断来控制IVC血流。根据癌栓上极位置的不同,分别采用5种不同术式：（1）静脉转流,心脏停搏,右心房及下腔静脉切开取栓1例;（2）静脉转流,心脏不停搏,心包内高位阻断下腔静脉,右心房和（或）下腔静脉切开取栓2例;（3）经腹部切口切开膈肌,心包内高位阻断下腔静脉,下腔静脉切开取栓1例;（4）经腹部切口,经膈肌腔静脉裂孔小切口,心包外高位阻断肝上下腔静脉,下腔静脉切开取栓1例;（5）经腹部切口,肝上阻断下腔静脉,下腔静脉切开取栓2例。结果所有手术均获成功,术后并发症包括胸腔积液2例,右膈下积液1例,切口感染1例。7例患者的生存时间为2周～26个月,平均9．8个月。已死亡的6例患者术后生存时间分别为13、9、11、2、17个月和2周,尚生存的1例患者已无瘤生存26个月。结论对合适病例实施肝癌切除和IVC切开取栓手术是安全可行的。手术治疗可以避免右心流人道阻塞和肺动脉栓塞造成的猝死,并有可能获得相对提高的生存时间和生活质量。     

Modified pump-driven venous bypass in surgery for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) involving the inferior vena cava (IVC)

Surgical management of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with a tumour thrombus that infiltrates the caval wall or extends above the hepatic veins can be problematic. Total control of the suprahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) is mandatory in order to prevent thrombus mobilization and minimize blood loss. Pump-driven veno-venous bypass (VVB), modified by adding portal decompression, is a safe and useful procedure and avoids the important risks connected with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest while allowing the normal perfusion of vital organs.     

Hepatectomy with total vascular exclusion. Anatomical principles based on 64 dissections

Intra-operative hemorrhage is the main surgical risk during liver resections. Nowadays hepatectomies for large or posterior liver tumors close to the hepatocaval junction can benefit from total hepatic vascular exclusion (HVE) involving portal triad exclusion and clamping of the inferior vena cava (IVC) below and above the liver. Anatomical aspects of HVE have been studied in 64 subjects by segmental occlusive phlebographies of the IVC, injection of corrosive substances into the hepatocaval network, biometry of the retrohepatic IVC and serial sections of injected livers. A total HVE should exclude the right suprarenal and phrenic veins. Clamping of the suprahepatic IVC depends on the termination of the left inferior phrenic vein. Clamping of the subhepatic IVC must be retrohepatic: the right lobe of the liver has to be mobilized to free the right border of the retrohepatic IVC into which flows the right suprarenal vein 40 +/- 20 mm above the right renal vein and under the superior right hepatic vein. Both suprahepatic and retrohepatic clamps excluding the retrohepatic portion of the IVC (46.6 +/- 13 mm) and the hepatocaval junction should come in contact behind the IVC without overlapping.     

Tumor Thrombectomy Without Bypass for Low-Grade Malignant Tumors Extending into the Inferior Vena Cava: Report of Two Cases

Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) rarely extends into the inferior vena cava (IVC). Two cases of ESS extending into the IVC were encountered. In the first case a low-grade sarcoma and cavography revealed the tumor thrombus to extend to just below the left renal vein from the right internal iliac vein, and the IVC was patent. A tumor thrombectomy was accomplished to prevent pulmonary embolism (PE) and to achieve a good prognosis. The second case was also a low-grade sarcoma. Abdominal computed tomography scanning revealed a large thrombus extending into the IVC just below the hepatic vein. A tumor thrombectomy with an IVC resection was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful for both cases. Aggressive surgical treatment is thus recommended to excise a tumor thrombus with or without an IVC resection in patients with ESS of low-grade malignancy extending into the IVC to prevent sudden death due to PE.     

Right hepatic lobectomy and removal of inferior vena caval tumor embolus in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma, using veno-venous bypass while preserving perfusion in the remnant liver: A case report

We describe a successful hepatectomy and the removal of a tumor embolus in a 43-year-old woman with hepatocellular carcinoma occupying the right lobe extending to the right branch of the portal vein and the inferior vena cava (IVC). Intraoperative echography revealed the tumor embolus in the IVC to originate from the main tumor via the right inferior hepatic vein, which extended cephalad from the confluence of the right hepatic vein to the IVC. Right hepatc lobectomy was performed via the anterior approach. Using femoro-axillary veno-venous bypass, we opened the IVC at the root of the inferior right hepatic vein to remove the tumor embolus after oblique clamping of the IVC between the right and middle hepatic veins was carried out to preserve perfusion in the remnant liver. Preserving perfusion in the remmant liver in radical hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor embolism in the IVC appears to be a safe and advantageous technique in patients with poor liver reserve.     

Two-step selective clamping of IVC for removal of hepatocellular carcinoma with intracaval extension

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with retrohepatic intracaval extensions are difficult to treat. HCC may sometimes extend into the inferior vena cava (IVC) through two routes: via the right hepatic vein and via the inferior right hepatic vein. In such cases, in which tumor emboli are located both above and below the confluence of the hepatic vein with the IVC, we first remove the upper embolus during THVE, and then remove the lower one while the IVC is clamped obliquely in order to preserve the residual liver circulation.     

Recidive of renal cell carcinoma tumor thrombus in inferior vena cava via lumbar vein

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) develops tumor thrombus in the renal vein and inferior vena cava (IVC) in 10% of cases. Surgical treatment is radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy of the IVC. Local recidive can develop in the lumbar fossa, lymph nodes, and the IVC. We report a 58-year-old patient admitted to the Clinic for Urology at the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia, in February 2009 with RCC of the left kidney and tumor thrombus in the IVC. After ultrasonography exam and multislice computed tomography scan, we performed radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy of the IVC (level II). Four months after the operation, ultrasound exam and cavography showed intracaval and paracaval recidive tumor masses in the renal part of the IVC. On operation we removed intraluminal IVC thrombus, which arises from the lumbar vein on the IVC posterior wall, with paracaval thrombus in the lumbar vein. We conclude that RCC tumor thrombus can spread from the kidney to the IVC through the lumbar vein.     

Renal cell carcinoma: management of venous thrombus

Radical nephrectomy with vena cava thrombectomy remains the treatment of choice in patients with renal cell carcinoma and inferior vena cava involvement. Surgery is performed with curative intent in patients without evidence of metastases or for cytoreduction, followed by possible immunotherapy in patients with distant metastases. The role of magnetic resonance imaging for evaluating the renal vein and/or IVC to detect thrombus and the proximal extent of thrombus is fully established. Surgical removal of these cancers through a transabdominal approach, even in patients with a level 2 thrombus (involving the retrohepatic IVC with close proximity to the main hepatic veins) is possible, avoiding the potential added morbidity of a throacoabdominal approach or median sternotomy. The application of liver transplant techniques and liver mobilization procedures not generally familiar to urological surgeons facilitates wide exposure and proximal control of the IVC for tumors cephalad to the confluence of the hepatic veins. As an initial step we believe that cephalad retraction of the liver with mobilization of the IVC by securing the lumbar, small hepatic and other unnamed venous collaterals may be tried to gain exposure of the retrohepatic IVC. Overall survival in patients with IVC involvement after complete surgical removal in the absence of metastatic disease justifies aggressive surgical management.