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.     

Liver transplantation in a patient with complex anomaly of the inferior vena cava

Background

After the introduction of noninvasive imaging exams, congenital anomalies of the inferior vena cava (IVC) have become more commonly recognized. We report the first successful orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) performed in an asymptomatic adult with complex IVC anomaly: duplication of the infrarenal IVC, azygos continuation of the IVC, agenesia of the hepatic portion of the IVC and presence of several anomalous veins communicating the common iliac vein and the IVC of one side with the contralateral side.

Methods

This complex anomaly was diagnosed with a venous abdominal angio CT.

Results

At liver transplantation, the short suprahepatic portion of the IVC was identified and clamped. The right, middle, and left hepatic veins were sectioned and joined in a single, wide cuff, using venoplasty. This single orifice was anastomosed to the suprahepatic IVC of the new liver. No venovenous bypass was employed. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course. A post transplantation venous abdominal angio CT showed normal blood flow at the anastomosis of the hepatic veins of the receptor and the IVC of the new liver.

Conclusions

This report is important to alert liver transplant teams of the possibility of complex IVC in asymptomatic adult individuals. Identification of these anatomical anomalies is vital to reduce the risk of serious hemorrhage and other operative complications during OLT.     

Concurrent inferior vena cava and hepatic vein stenoses after orthotopic liver transplantation: a case report

Outflow obstruction or stenosis of a hepatic graft is a rare but serious complication after liver transplantation, with a reported incidence of 1% to 6%. It can cause signs of portal hypertension, renal dysfunction, or lower-extremity edema depending on the level of obstruction, which may lead to patient mortality. Most reported cases show a stenosis at either the inferior vena cava (IVC) or one of the hepatic veins. Herein we have reported our experience of concurrent suprahepatic IVC and hepatic vein stenoses after orthotopic liver transplantation with related imaging findings and a successful treatment outcome. Due to the complexity of stenoses, two self-expandable metallic stents were placed simultaneously using different venous accesses.     

Living donor liver transplantation for Budd–Chiari syndrome with hepatic inferior vena cava obstruction after open pericardial procedures

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for Budd–Chiari syndrome (BCS) presents a unique challenge as it does not involve replacement of the hepatic inferior vena cava (IVC). We report a case of successful LDLT in a patient with BCS associated with occlusion of the hepatic veins as well as the IVC. A 34-year-old woman with a history of two open pericardial procedures had decompensated liver failure and portal hypertension. Venography showed complete obstruction of the hepatic IVC and well-developed collateral vessels. We performed LDLT via sternotomy and laparotomy, with an end-to-end anastomosis between the left hepatic vein of the donor and the patient’s suprahepatic vena cava in the pericardium. The patient recovered uneventfully and has been doing well for 5 years. LDLT without caval replacement for BCS in a patient with hepatic IVC obstruction is feasible if the patient has good functional collaterals before liver transplantation.     

Modified liver hanging maneuver during orthotopic liver transplantation with inferior vena cava preservation: results after 120 consecutive applications

The outflow venovenous anastomosis represent a crucial aspect during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) with inferior vena cava (IVC) preservation. The modified Belghiti liver hanging maneuver applied to the last phase of hepatectomy, lifting the liver, provides a better exposure of the suprahepatic region and allows easier orthogonal clamping of the three suprahepatic veins with a minimal portion of IVC occlusion. The outflow anastomosis constructed with a common cloacae of the three native suprahepatic veins is associated with a lower incidence of graft related venous outflow complications. The procedure planned in 120 consecutive OLT was achieved in 118 (99%). The outflow anastomosis was constructed on the common cloaca of the three hepatic veins in 111/120 cases (92.5%). No major complications were observed (bleeding during tunnel creation, graft outflow dysfunction, etc) except in one patient with acute Budd-Chiari, who successfully underwent retransplantation.     

Inferior vena cava bypass for the treatment of obliterative hepatocavopathy with five-year follow-up

Inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombosis at its hepatic portion (also known as obliterative hepatocavopathy [OH]), in the absence of systemic or local diseases such as vasculitis, coagulopathy, infection and malignancy, is a rare event. We report the case of a 25-year-old woman with progressive abdominal pain and leg edema after exercise. Imaging showed congestive liver and IVC occlusion at the intrahepatic portion. A liver biopsy demonstrated portal congestion without evidence of fibrosis; after unsuccessful percutaneous attempts for recanalization, consideration was given to liver transplantation with IVC reconstruction versus IVC bypass. Due to the presence of preserved liver function, an externally supported 16-mm ringed polytetrafluoroethylene graft was used to bypass from the suprarenal IVC to the suprahepatic IVC. At five years, she remains symptom-free, with normal liver function and a patent graft on systemic anticoagulation. This report highlights the successful surgical management of a patient with OH with a thick membrane. It supports other published proposals that this entity differs significantly from classic Budd-Chiari syndrome with thrombosis that affects only the hepatic veins and, thus, OH should be approached and managed differently.     

Interrupted Inferior Vena Cava Combined with Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return Drainage to the IVC in a 67‐Year‐Old Adult

A 67‐year‐old woman presented with lower body edema and was found to have a suprarenal inferior vena cava (IVC) obstruction without hepatic vein obstruction and partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR) draining the right pulmonary veins to the IVC below the obstructed IVC on CT angiography. The patient underwent retrohepatic cavoatrial bypass with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) 16‐mm ringed graft via a posterolateral thoracotomy and retroperitoneal approach.     

Multidisciplinary treatment in Budd-Chiari syndrome: clinical case

Budd-Chiari Syndrome (BCS) is characterized by obstruction of hepatic venous outflow. When obstruction is limited to the suprahepatic veins, portocaval shunting provides an immediate relief of symptoms. If the obstacle results also from narrowing of the inferior vena cava (IVC), multimodality treatments seem to offer safer and easier alternative. In the patient herein reported, combination of side-to-side portocaval anastomosis with a cavo-atrial shunt through an expandible metallic stent provided immediate relief of symptoms. The patient is doing well after 85 months from combined treatment. In conclusion infracaval stenting combined to side-to-side portocaval shunting should represent the treatment of choice in acute or subacute forms of BCS.     

Transcaval posterocranial resection of the liver as treatment of the Budd-Chiari syndrome

In 3 patients with a Budd-Chiari syndrome the suprahepatic caval vein was incised during extracorporeal circulation and the suprahepatic hindrance for the hepatic venous runoff abolished. By resection of the juxta caval hepatic tissue the thrombotically occluded parts of the main vein stems were removed and a free hepatic venous flow to the caval vein was established in 2 patients. In the third patient, who had a caval stenosis at the diaphragmatic level (web) and thrombosis of even smaller hepatic veins and a retrograde flow to the portal vein, the resection resulted in an abundant blood flow from the resected liver area. It is assumed that this flow originates not only from the smaller hepatic veins, but to a great extent from arterio- and portovenous shunting. Angiography has shown that such shunting can take place after resection. The first 2 patients are healthy and working full-time at 2 1/2 and 2 years postoperatively, respectively. Nine months postoperatively, the third patient is in good condition, jaundice has disappeared, and bleeding from esophageal varices has not occurred.     

Budd-Chiari综合征诊治进展

Budd-Chiari综合征(BCS)是由肝静脉和(或)其开口以上段下腔静脉阻塞性病变引起的常伴有下腔静脉综合征为特点的一种肝后性门静脉高压症.BCS病因复杂,临床表现多样,笔者对BCS的临床表现、诊断、治疗方法等进行文献综述,重点在于BCS的腔内及外科手术治疗.     

Resection and reconstruction of the inferior vena cava for major hepatic resection]

The inferior vena cava (IVC) is partially or segmentally resected in major hepatic resection for malignant hepatic tumors in case of possible direct invasion to the IVC wall or IVC tumor thrombosis. The reconstruction methods of the IVC are divided into three categories depending on the degree of IVC resection: simple suture; patch repair; and segmental replacement. In segmental replacement, a synthetic material such as a cylindrical expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts is widely utilized as a substitute. The total hepatic vascular exclusion technique is usually necessary in concomitant resection of the suprahepatic IVC. When a longer duration of hepatic vascular exclusion is required to resect and reconstruct the suprahepatic IVC and hepatic vein confluence, in situ hypothermic perfusion, the ante situm technique, or ex vivo bench surgery must be applied. When an ePTFE graft is replaced in the resected IVC, a Carrel patch of the IVC is used for the hepatic vein orifice to maintain anastomotic patency. Alternatively, the hepatic vein can be reanastomosed to an inferior vena caval segment transpositioned from the intact infrahepatic IVC portion by replacing the resected infrahepatic IVC with an ePTFE graft.     

The hepaticocaval intersection: current anatomosurgical aspects. Apropos of 32 dissections

Segmental occlusive phlebography of IVC coupled with a slit in its posterior wall, injection of corrosive substances into portal and hepaticocaval network, biometry of the retrohepatic IVC and serial sections of injected livers from 32 fresh subjects has allowed definition of the hepaticocaval intersection which constitutes one of the rare current stumbling-blocks to hepatic surgery. Emergency surgery for hepaticocaval injuries exposes patients to the risk of gas embolus and massive haemorrhage. Using a median sternolaparotomy approach they require previous temporary hemostasis by quadruple clamping or intracaval shunt: in more than half of cases the length of the subhepatic, suprarenal IVC of less than 1 cm does not permit application of a clamp and necessitates introduction of an intracaval shunt by the atrial route. Cold surgery for certain hepatic tumors close to the intersection can benefit from vascular exclusion of liver but the right middle capsular and inferior phrenic veins must be clamped: clamping of the suprahepatic IVC is dependent on the site of the intersection in relation to diaphragm. The principal right hepatic vein, lacking collateral over 1 cm external to liver in 1 of 2 cases, can be controlled extraparenchymatously after mobilization of right liver, but caution is needed because of the predominance of "accessory" hepatic veins in 25% of cases. Control of hepatic veins external to liver on left side is dangerous since a common trunk is frequent (87.5%), collateral branches numerous and often vulnerable. Relations between intersection, diaphragm and right atrium also define modalities of treatment of hepatic lesions in membranes of terminal IVC and in Budd Chiari's syndrome.     

幼猪辅助性部分肝移植供肝体外解剖学观察及其修整分割

目的体外观察幼猪供肝的解剖学特点,总结辅助性部分肝移植供肝修整分割经验。方法16头幼猪供肝灌洗取出后于体外进行解剖学观察,借用探针条探查肝动脉和胆管,用刮扒水洗法切除左半肝,断面管道仔细结扎,余下右半肝作为供肝。结果幼猪肝脏质地脆嫩,分为左外侧叶、左中叶、右中叶、右外侧叶和尾状叶等5叶。其各部分体积、质量与其体质量呈正相关。肝中裂较浅,但其间少有门静脉交通支存在。肝固有动脉可有变异。肝静脉均于肝内汇入下腔静脉,左半肝回流静脉多有共干（14/16）。肝上、肝下下腔静脉均短,肝内下腔静脉下段肝实质较薄。16例供肝修整分割均顺利完成,断面管道显露清晰,复流后充盈良好,肝断面出血少。结论根据幼猪体重可估计其肝脏各部体积和质量;刮扒水洗法行供肝体外分割简便实用;获得的右半肝作为供肝,其肝上下腔静脉易于与受体肝内下腔静脉端侧吻合。     

Liver resection under total vascular isolation. Variations on a theme.

Total vascular isolation (TVI) of the liver was employed during parenchymal transection in 16 patients undergoing hepatic resection for large tumors (mean diameter, 10.7 cm) located near hilar structures, hepatic veins, or the inferior vena cava (IVC). In 14 cases, TVI was achieved by clamping the suprahepatic and infrahepatic IVC and the porta hepatis, with or without aortic occlusion; in two, selective hepatic vein clamping was possible, obviating IVC occlusion. Procedures included standard and extended right and left lobectomies and caudate lobe resections. Concomitant resection and reconstruction of the portal vein (one case), IVC (one case), and bile duct (three cases) was required. Postoperative hepatic and renal failure did not occur. Mean intensive care unit and hospital stays were 2.8 +/- 1.9 and 12.5 +/- 5.2 days, respectively. There were two perioperative deaths. Total vascular isolation permits safe resection of large, critically located tumors that would otherwise present prohibitive operative risks.     

A rare case of complex vascular reconstruction in liver transplantation.

Abnormalities of recipient or donor vascular structures are associated with reconstructive difficulties in liver transplantation. A patient with thrombosis of the right hepatic vein and associated stricture of the inferior vena cava (IVC), portal vein thrombosis and multiple aberrant arteries underwent orthotopic liver transplantation. The donor's suprahepatic IVC was anastomosed to the recipient's intrathoracic IVC. The portal vein flow was restored by venous graft interposition, while the arterial flow was ensured by interposing an iliac arterial graft anastomosed to the infrarenal aorta. In conclusion, graft function remains excellent more than 5 years postoperatively.     

Superior approach for the exclusion of hepatic veins in major liver resection: A safe and easy technique

We describe a technique for isolating and excluding the hepatic veins during liver resection. First, the bare area near the right and left wall of the suprahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) is dissected, exposing the right, left, and superior walls of the right hepatic vein (RHV) and the left-middle hepatic vein (LMHV). Two Satinsky clamps are used to clamp the roots of the right and common trunk of the LMHV, parallel to the IVC. It is not necessary to dissect the posterior wall of the hepatic veins. We used this method during major liver resection in 65 patients. The mean dissecting time of each hepatic vein was 7.31 ± 3.6 min. No hepatic vein was lacerated during dissection and exclusion. The postoperative complication rate was 31.2%. Thus, the superior approach is a safe and easy maneuver when the posterior wall of the hepatic vein is difficult to dissect due to tumor invasion. Li Aijun and Pan Zeya contributed equally to this work.     

A radical operation for the Budd-Chiari syndrome associated with obstruction of the inferior vena cava. A report of six patients

The Budd-Chiari syndrome is caused by an occlusion of the hepatic veins and is often associated with an obstruction in the hepatic portion of the inferior vena cava (IVC). Therefore, the various shunt operations done in an attempt to relieve the portal hypertension are often not effective. By using a radical surgical technique on six patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome, the liver was freed and a wide longitudinal incision was made in the hepatic portion of the IVC. The obstructed hepatic vein was reopened using a Fogarty catheter, and a pericardial patch reinforced with a Teflon prosthesis was secured over the incision. Two patients were still asymptomatic 3 and 4 years after operation. Two patients died postoperatively of pneumonia and hepatic insufficiency. The two other patients were discharged in fair condition, and one died 6 months postoperatively following hepatic failure.     

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.     

Compressive stenosis of the inferior vena cava due to localized ascites after living-donor liver transplantation

A 54-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital following the diagnosis of decompensated liver cirrhosis with hepatitis C. She underwent living-donor liver transplantation, performed using the left hepatic lobe with the middle hepatic vein donated by her husband. After the transplantation, the patient suffered from massive ascites with liver dysfunction. Computed tomography demonstrated stenosis of the suprahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) with focal collection of fluid. A second laparotomy was performed 19 days after the transplantation. When the encapsulated localized ascites on both sides of the IVC was opened, the ascites was flushed away. Subsequently, the grafted liver was easily mobilized and it was placed in the natural position without any tension, and the pressure gradient of the IVC was improved. Herein, we report a very rare case of compression stenosis of the IVC resulting in Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by localized encapsulated ascites.