Intracaval Thrombus Research Articles

En-Bloc Resection of Renal Cell Carcinoma With Tumor Thrombus Propagating Into the Intrapericardial Inferior Vena Cava: Efficacy and Safety of Transabdominal Approach.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common primary kidney cancer. In up to 4-10% of patients, the tumor is complicated with a malignant thrombus extending to the inferior vena cava (IVC). Complete surgical excision of the RCC and the neoplastic thrombus can be curative. We aim to present a safe and feasible alternative transabdominal operative technique with the omission of thoracotomy, as applied in six patients diagnosed with RCC and IVC thrombus extending over the diaphragm. This case series study was conducted in a tertiary university hospital in Athens, Greece. All six patients, who were operated on for RCC and a malignant thrombus exceeding in the intrapericardial IVC in our department from January 2009 until March 2020, were screened. Intraoperatively, the infrarenal and intrapericardial IVC were clamped simultaneously with the renal and liver blood inflow. Access to the intrapericardial IVC was obtained via the central tendon of the diaphragm. Intrathoracic extension of the tumor was confirmed by transesophageal or intraoperative ultrasonography. The intrathoracic IVC was exposed to direct vision and two finger palpation was applied to secure the clamping of the IVC above the tip of the thrombus. The tumor was resected through a longitudinal venotomy and the operation was completed on a standard radical nephrectomy. During the study period six patients presented with RCC and intrapericardial IVC thrombus. All patients, five female and one male, underwent radical nephrectomy combined with IVC thrombectomy, without the need for a thoracotomy. The mean age was 66 years old and the mean operative time was 122.5 minutes. Mean blood loss was 338 ml and only four of the patients were transfused with two units of RBC. Operative and hospital mortality was 0%. The hospital stay was seven (six to nine) days. Only one patient required readmission and reoperation 30 days later, due to intrapericardial herniation. The proposed surgical technique may be curative in patients with advanced intracaval thrombus and helps reduce the associated morbidity, mortality, and the overall cost of more extended operations.

Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Outcomes in Children With Wilms Tumor With Caval Thrombus: A Single Center Experience.

The aim of our study is to present our experience in the management and outcome of Wilms tumor with intracaval thrombus. All children with Wilms tumor with intracaval thrombus who presented to us from July 2000 to December 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. We evaluated the tumor stage, management, and outcomes in these patients. Thirty-four patients were included in the study. The median age of presentation was 48 months (11 to 84mo). Preoperative chemotherapy was given in 32 (94%), with a median duration of 8 weeks. Intracaval thrombus completely resolved in 9 (26%) children after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Surgical intervention for residual inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombus was performed in 32 patients. The median follow-up was 30 months (5 to 150mo). At the last follow-up, 24 patients (70%) were alive and disease free. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival were 67% (95% confidence interval, 50% to 84%) and 59% (95% confidence interval, 42% to 76%). The OS in children with nonmetastatic disease (94%) was significantly higher than those with metastases (29%; P <0.01). The OS in children with complete resolution of IVC thrombus (100%) was significantly higher than those with persistent thrombus (48%; P =0.025). Analysis of survival outcomes in children with nonmetastatic disease (stage III) revealed no significant difference on comparison with cohort with stage III disease with absence of IVC thrombus. The P -value was 0.224 and 0.53 for 5-year OS and event-free survival, respectively. The management of Wilms tumor can be complicated by the presence of caval thrombus. Patients with metastasis have a significantly poor outcome. Patients in whom, there is complete resolution of intracaval thrombus on neoadjuvant chemotherapy have a significantly higher OS.

Nephroureterectomy with inferior vena-caval thrombectomy in post-chemotherapy Wilms' tumour in a child – From the eyes of the surgeon!

Intracaval extension is present in 4-11% of all Wilms' tumour (WT). We present the open surgical nuances of inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombectomy with nephroureterectomy in post-chemotherapy WT. A 10-year-old girl with right WT and intracaval tumour thrombus presented for surgical resection after six cycles of chemotherapy (vincristine, actinomycin D). A preoperative assessment plan of the vascular anatomy of the tumour was done. Meticulous intraoperative handling of the tumour mass, overcoming chemotherapy-induced fibrosis during inter-aortocaval groove dissection, optimal hemodynamic control during venotomy, en bloc resection of tumour with intracaval thrombus, and repair of the IVC are detailed. A 70×65×30mm right renal mass with 20×10×4mm level II IVC thrombus was excised en bloc. The intraoperative blood loss was 250mL, operative time was 220min, and total hospital stay was 7 days. The child completed post-surgical chemotherapy as per protocol. There is a paucity of literature regarding techniques for resection of WT with IVC extension in post-chemotherapy patients. With erudite preoperative planning and fine intraoperative dissection, complete resection of WT with intracaval thrombus is feasible with minimal blood loss and rapid postoperative recovery.

Technical Intraoperative Maneuvers for the Management of Inferior Vena Cava Thrombus in Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Renal vein or inferior vena cava (IVC) invasion by neoplastic thrombus in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is not an obstacle for radical oncological treatment. The aim of this study is to present our technical maneuvers for complete removal of the intracaval thrombus without compromising hemodymanic stability of the patient. Between 2000 and 2014, 15 RCC patients with IVC involvement of levels I-III were treated with curative intent and were prospectively studied. The operative technique varied according to thrombus extent. For type I, extraction of the thrombus is facilitated by a 2-3 cm longitudinal incision on the IVC that begins at the level of the renal vein and extends cranially, encompassing a vessel wall rim of the orifice of the resected renal vein. For type II cases, the IVC is clamped above the neoplastic thrombus, and for type III, the IVC clamping is combined with hepatic blood flow control with "Pringle maneuver." For type IV, the IVC is clamped above the diaphragm, or if the thrombus extends into the right atrium cardiothoracic input is appropriate. The main operative steps include preparation and control of the renal vessels and the IVC. Occasionally, for type III tumor thrombi, the patient becomes hemodynamically unstable when IVC is clamped suprahepatically. In such a case, a novel operative maneuver of milking the thrombus below the orifice of the hepatic veins, and subsequently the IVC clamp also beneath the hepatic veins, allowing release of the "Pringle maneuver" is performed. This operative step restores hepatic blood flow and hemodynamic stability and is based on the floating nature of the thrombus into the IVC. Mean operative time was 120 min (range from 90 to 180 min), and average liver and renal warm ischemia time was 20 min (range from 15 to 35 min). Postoperative overall hospital stay ranged from 7 to 13 days. The technical solutions employed in the current study allow successful removal of neoplastic thrombi from the IVC in most cases, associated with minimal perioperative complication rate even for patients who due to multiple comorbidities would be considered otherwise inoperable.

Effects of change in surgical approach in T3 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with intracaval thrombus on complications and survival.

471 Background: In patients with T3 RCC with venous tumor thrombus reaching the inferior vena cava, without metastatic disease, a nephrectomy with cavotomy is performed. Before 2000, surgical approach of level 3-4 caval tumorthrombus included sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass with circulatory arrest, with high morbidity and mortality rates. After the routine use of liver mobilization around 2000, sternotomy became less necessary. We compared perioperative characteristics, complications and survival pre- and post-2000. Methods: We retrospectively studied 91 patients, operated between 1984 and 2016 in a referral hospital. Patients with a T3 RCC and caval thrombus underwent a radical nephrectomy with thrombectomy. Data on patient and tumor characteristics, operation approach, complications (Clavien-Dindo classification), hospital stay, progression and survival were collected and analyzed using Mann-Whitney U, Chi-Square, and Log-Rank tests. Results: 91 patients (56 male) with a mean age of 65 years were included. 33% had a level 3 or 4 cava thrombus. Surgical management before 2000 included sternotomy with circulation arrest in 32% and liver mobilization in 10%. After 2000, the number of sternotomies lowered to 8% while liver mobilization increased to 74%. See table 1 for perioperative outcomes and complications. Disease specific survival was significant longer in patients operated after 2000 (estimated mean 70 vs. 94 months, p = 0.03). Only N stage influenced progression free survival, patients N+ showed worse survival (p &lt; 0.01). Conclusions: The change in surgical approach including liver mobilization significantly decreased complication rates, blood loss, transfusion rate, hospital stay and increased disease specific survival. [Table: see text]

Inferior vena cava thrombus recurrence after radical nephrectomy in renal cell carcinoma.

511 Background: Local recurrence after radical nephrectomy in renal cell carcinoma occurs in about 2-4% of the patients. An isolated intracaval thrombus is described in only very few cases. We report about our experience in the diagnosis and theapy of this random entity. Methods: 5 patients (2f, 3m) were referred to our institution with the diagnosis of an IVC thrombus recurrence. All patients had underwent a radical nephrectomy 1-9 years before the relapse. In 3 patients, the thrombus was diagnosed within the routine follow up, another 2 presented with swelling/deep vein thrombosis. The staging showed no other metastases. Results: The mean patient age at time of diagnosis was 73.8 (70-81) years. 2 patients presented with a level II thrombus, 2 with level III and one with a level IV thrombus. We could resect the thrombus completely in 4 cases and close the cava with a running suture. In one case we had to resect the inferior vena cava completely and replace it with a gortex prosthesis. The mean blood loss was 1.7 (0-8) liters at an operating time of 5.5 (4.3-7.6) hours. The mean follow up was 3.5 (0.5-8) years, until today occured one case of pulmonal metastatic disease. Significant perioperative complications classified after Clavien-Dindo occured in one case with an intraoperative bleeding and rupture oft he spleen that required a mass-transfusion. Conclusions: Although it is a technical demanding procedure, the surgical resection of a recurrent vena cava thrombus is the method of choice with only a little perioperative morbidity and high oncological effectivity. This random type of recurrent disease illustrates the importance of an adequate primary therapy as well as a regularly follow up after cava-involvement.

PD5-07 INTRATUBULAR GERM CELL NEOPLASIA AND MULTIFOCALITY IN TESTICULAR GERM CELL TUMORS

chemotherapy and five had salvage chemotherapy. Eighteen had teratoma in the RC nodes, 1 had viable tumor, 2 had teratoma and viable tumor and 4 had fibrosis. The concordance with the retroperitoneal pathology was 84%. During PC-RPLND 6 patients had nephrectomy, 3 required a chest tube, 2 patients underwent resection of an intracaval thrombus, and one patient had revascularization of the superior mesenteric artery. The 5-year CSS after RC dissection during PC-RPLND was 69% (95%CI: 39%-86%). The initial CS in the redo RPLND group was advanced disease in 10 patients and CS IIa in 2. Seven were IGCCCG good risk, 1 intermediate risk, 2 poor risk and two had insufficient data. Five patients were treated with chemotherapy at time of relapse and 7 were treated with upfront surgery. Of 12 patients, 10 had teratoma found in the RC nodes, one had teratoma with malignant transformation and one had viable tumor. The concordance with the retroperitoneum was 100%. The 5-year CSS after RC dissection during redo RPLND was 63% (95%CI: 24%-87%). CONCLUSIONS: RC involvement is encountered in patients with bulky retroperitoneal disease. Due to the high rate of disease found in patients with preoperative imaging suggestive of RC involvement, and the high concordance with the disease found in the retroperitoneum, a complete resection of all residual RC disease should be performed. Appropriate preparation for adjunctive procedures is essential prior to surgery.

Adrenocortical carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava in a patient with right kidney agenesis: Surgical approach and review of literature

INTRODUCTIONAdrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis and the association with tumor thrombus into the inferior vena cava (IVC) is not common. The best treatment is represented by radical surgery. PRESENTATION OF CASEWe describe a case of a large ACC of the left adrenal gland extending into the IVC through the left renal vein in a young patient with agenesis of the right kidney and signs of acute renal failure. A midline laparotomy was performed, subsequently extended by a left thoracophrenotomy through the 7th intercostal space in order to control the proximal surface of the mass and the thoracic aorta. The tumor was completely excised preserving the kidney, and thrombectomy was performed by a cavotomy with a temporary caval clamping, without cardiopulmonary by-pass (CPB). DISCUSSIONWe discuss surgical approaches reported in literature in case of ACC with intracaval extension. The tumor must be completely resected and the thrombectomy can be performed by different approaches: cavotomy with direct suture, partial resection of caval wall without reconstruction, resection of vena cava with graft reconstruction. These procedures could require a CPB, with an increased mortality. In our case we preserved the kidney and a thrombectomy without CPB was performed. CONCLUSIONIntracaval extension of ACC does not represent a contraindication to surgery. The best treatment of intracaval thrombus should be the cavotomy with direct suture. The CPB is not always required. In presence of renal agenesis, the preservation of the kidney is mandatory.

Wilms' tumor with intracaval thrombus in the UK Children's Cancer Study Group UKW3 trial

Background/Purpose To define the clinical characteristics and surgical management of intracaval involvement in patients enrolled in the UKW3 trial (1991-2001), which recommended elective preoperative chemotherapy for such cases. Methods Cases were identified from preoperative imaging and surgical trial forms. These asked specific questions about whether the surgeon suspected intracaval extension at diagnosis or found it at nephrectomy. For tumors with Wilms' histology, original case notes were examined. Results Of 842 patients registered in UKW3, 730 (87%) had Wilms' tumor. Among them, 59 (8.1%) had evidence of intracaval extension, either documented at diagnosis (53) or found unexpectedly at nephrectomy (6). Intracaval extension was also seen in tumors of other histology. The level of thrombus was intraatrial (10), suprahepatic (9), retrohepatic (8), infrahepatic (26), and unknown (6). The median age at diagnosis was 3.75 years compared to 2.97 years in patients without inferior vena cava thrombus ( P < .0001). Fifty-two of 59 received preoperative chemotherapy. Thirty-one (52%) needed cavotomy, and 3 (30%) with intraatrial extension required cardiopulmonary bypass. The commonest operative complication was significant hemorrhage and resulted in mortality in 3 cases. Conclusions Preoperative chemotherapy is a useful adjunct to shrink the tumor and thrombus. This reduces the requirement for cavotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass. Intraoperative hemorrhage remains a significant cause of operative morbidity and mortality.

Cavoatrial Tumor Extension in Children With Wilms Tumor

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment results of 17 children with cavoatrial tumor extension of Wilms tumor. Of the 360 Wilms tumors diagnosed between 1980 and 2000, 17 patients with intracaval thrombus were identified from the medical records at the pediatric oncology department of Hacettepe University. The following data were collected and reviewed: age, sex, presenting symptoms, tumor site, presence of anaplasia, stage, associated congenital anomalies, localization of tumor thrombus, radiologic findings, type and duration of preoperative chemotherapy, response to preoperative chemotherapy, recurrences, and survival. The frequency of cavoatrial extension in this group was 4.7% (15 in the inferior vena cava and 2 in the right atrium). Fourteen patients received preoperative chemotherapy consisting of two-drug regimen (vincristine and actinomycin D) ranging from 1 to 12 weeks (median 4 weeks). Since intravascular invasion is often asymptomatic, a careful radiologic examination to detect tumor thrombus before surgery is essential. There is no need for aggressive surgery in the presence of tumor thrombus. It may be resolved by preoperative chemotherapy. Surgical removal of the thrombus should be considered in the presence of life-threatening tumor thrombosis at diagnosis and in patients who had residual thrombus after chemotherapy.

The Use of Natural Veno-Venous Bypass during Surgical Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma with Inferior Vena Cava Thrombus

Renal cell carcinoma associated with inferior vena cava thrombus complicates radical nephrectomy. Various approaches have been used to deal with this problem including veno-venous and cardiopulmonary bypass. Using natural veno-venous bypass may prevent the use of another type of bypass. A total of 16 patients underwent removal of renal cell carcinoma and an intracaval tumor thrombus without using veno-venous bypass. One of the natural veno-venous bypasses consisted in the mobilization of the liver off the retrohepatic inferior vena cava to allow enhanced access, vascular control, and hepatic venous drainage. The other natural bypass involved the preservation and use of collateral veins created by the longstanding obstruction of the inferior vena cava. In all 16 patients surgery was successful. Inferior vena cava clamping above and below the tumor thrombus did not result in systemic hypotension. There was no intraoperative mortality. There were no other complications. Mobilization of the liver off the retrohepatic inferior vena cava and preservation of collateral drainage (right testicular or ovarian veins and/or lumbar veins) were useful techniques in dealing with renal cell carcinoma with intracaval thrombus. These natural veno-venous bypasses allow vascular isolation of the inferior vena cava without disturbing the venous return to the heart and thereby help to prevent hemodynamic instability.

Application of the flexible cystoscope to the excision of renal cell carcinoma with intracaval tumor thrombus

Cardiopulmonary bypass, temporary cardiac arrest, and exsanguination have facilitated the surgical resection of renal tumors with intracaval thrombi that extend above the hepatic veins or into the atrium. The bloodless field provided by this approach enables the surgeon to utilize a flexible cystoscope to ensure that the caval thrombus has been removed entirely from the hepatic veins.

Intravenous Leiomyomatosis Extending into the Right Ventricle: One-Stage Radical Excision during Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest

A case of intravenous leiomyomatosis with extension into the right ventricle is described. A tumor in the inferior vena cava was detected 5 years after a hysterectomy had been performed for a myomatous uterus, but was misdiagnosed as an intracaval thrombus. Three years later this tumor was discovered after it had enlarged and intruded into the right ventricle. The correct diagnosis was made after a complete evaluation. The patient underwent surgery employing simultaneous sternotomy and laparotomy. Radical excision was achieved using cardiopulmonary bypass with hypothermic circulatory arrest. The diagnostic and surgical approaches are reviewed and discussed.

Surgical Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma with Vena Cava Or Cavo-Atrial Involvement. Our Experience

From January 1987 to September 1992, 290 patients were operated for renal cell carcinoma at the Department of Urology of Bergamo General Hospital. Among these, 22 had venous invasion, 13 of them with vena cava or cavo-atrial involvement. The Authors stress several technical details that they judge very helpful in the case of intrahepatic or supradiaphragmatic thrombi. Among them the routine use of transesophageal sonography, which gives precise details on the size, volume, and upper limit of the thrombus especially if floating. 4 patients were operated with the help of cardiopulmonary by-pass, circulatory arrest and profound hypothermia. The Authors stress the major advantages offered by this technique compared to simpler approaches like the control either of the supradiaphragmatic vena cava, or hepatic veins. Cardiopulmonary by-pass and circulatory arrest offers unsurpassed exposure of the IVC interior and allows easy and controlled extraction of the thrombus, previously the most difficult part of the procedure. Having no time limit imposed by liver ischemia (± 20 minutes), it also offers the possibility of resecting segments of caval wall and repairing it with patch grafts. Among 13 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy and intracaval thrombus removal, limited complications and no peri-operative mortalities are reported.

Obstruction of the inferior vena cava: a multiple-modality demonstration of causes, manifestations, and collateral pathways.

This article explores the causes and manifestations of obstruction of the inferior vena cava (IVC) with a multiple-modality approach. Caval obstruction may be due to thrombus, extension of a tumor, extrinsic compression, or intrinsic caval disease. Evaluation of the IVC should be tailored to the individual circumstance; no single modality is best in all situations. Although magnetic resonance offers multiplanar imaging, vena cavography or ultrasound are often necessary to exclude intraluminal tumor extension. Computed tomography is sensitive for intracaval thrombus and compression but does not delineate the hepatic IVC well. Nuclear venography demonstrates well the resultant collateral pathways, which can be separated into the deep, intermediate, superficial, and portal systems. Despite the clear visualization of these pathways with this modality, congenital caval anomalies, such as caval interruption with azygos continuation, can be confused with acquired caval disease.

Caval thrombectomy in a ruptured aortic aneurysm associated with aorto-caval fistula

Aorto-caval fistula is a rare but recognized complication of an aortic aneurysm. The association of pulmonary emboli has also been described and is attributed to paradoxical embolisation of the atheromatous contents of the aneurysm sac. This report describes a unique case of a fistula associated with a ruptured aneurysm in which a large intracaval thrombus was removed at the time of operation.

Pulmonary thromboembolism following angioplasty for membraneous occlusion of the vena cava: Case report

Pulmonary thromboembolism following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for membranous occlusion of the inferior vena cava is reported. Scintigraphy following angioplasty showed a pulmonary perfusion defect with mild hypoxia. The patient recovered after anticoagulant therapy. Pulmonary thromboembolism may be a complication of angioplasty in patients who have membranous occlusions accompanying intracaval thrombus.

Metastatic Testicular Teratoma Invading the Inferior Vena Cava

We report a case of a teratoma thrombus within the inferior vena cava subsequent to chemotherapy for embryonal carcinoma of the testis. A review of the literature indicates that intracaval metastases occur in approximately 1 per cent of the patients with bulky retroperitoneal disease. Seminoma and embryonal carcinoma have been identified previously within the inferior vena cava, and teratoma is now added to that list. The potential lethality of teratoma owing to local growth alone is underscored by its intracaval presence in this case. We recommend close inspection of the inferior vena cava at operation for bulky disease to exclude an intracaval thrombus, as well as complete excision of all residual masses following chemotherapy for testis cancer.