Tube cavoplasty using autologous vein grafts for resected inferior vena cava reconstruction

Abstract

Reconstruction of inferior vena cava (IVC) defects after surgical resection of the IVC is associated with significant complications, such as venous thrombosis and graft infection. We herein report a new technique called "tube cavoplasty" that uses only autologous venous grafts to reconstruct IVC defects after resection of leiomyosarcomas of the IVC. The patient's own left internal jugular and left external iliac veins are procured independently and incised along their axes to create an independent venous patch that is approximated together to make a wider "tube" graft. The size and length of the "tube" graft perfectly matches the IVC defect. In this study, no complications associated with this new procedure were observed except for transient mild edema of the left leg. This new technique could be a valuable tool to reconstruct IVC defects, such as those that occur after resection of IVC tumors or IVC stenosis for Budd-Chiari syndrome.