Removal of renal cell carcinoma extending into the right atrium using cardiopulmonary bypass, profound hypothermia and circulatory arrest

Invading of Renal Cell Carcinoma in Inferior Vena Cava and Right Atrium with a Huge Metastatic Thrombus

BACKGROUND: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with cavoatrial involvement represents a major surgical challenge. Several surgical techniques for the treatment of these tumors have been proposed, but due to a small number of patients and limited follow-up, substantial controversy about the best operative management still exists. CASE REPORT: A 54-year-old woman, with no previous comorbidities, comes to the emergency room with low back pain, weight loss, and edema of the lower legs that computed tomography revealed a massive infiltrative expansive formation in the abdomen that affected practically the entire right kidney, measuring 8.2 cm × 7.6 cm that invaded the collecting system and was in close contact with the right hepatic lobe and the head of the pancreas. During the intervention, infiltration of the renal vein on this side is found, and the inferior vena cava (IVC) that extends in its intrahepatic part, up to the junction of the suprahepatic veins, with almost complete closure of the lumen accompanied by the presence of retroperitoneal lymph nodes, with size up to 10 mm. CONCLUSION: Advanced extension of RCC can occur with no apparent symptoms and be detected incidentally. In rare circumstances, atypical presentation of RCC should be considered in a patient presenting with the right atrial mass detected by echocardiography. RCC with IVC and right atrium extension is a complex surgical challenge, but excellent results can be obtained with proper patient selection, meticulous surgical techniques, and close perioperative patient care.

Surgical Outcome of Renal Cell Carcinoma with Tumor Thrombus Extension into Inferior Vena Cava and Right Atrium (Beating Heart Removal of Level 4 Thrombus): A Challenging Scenario

Aim

“To evaluate oncological and surgical outcomes of different levels of tumor thrombus and tumor characteristics secondary to renal cell carcinoma (RCC)”.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective review from 2013 to 2020 of 34 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy with thrombectomy for RCC with tumor thrombus extending into the inferior vena cava (IVC) and right atrium (RA) at our center. Level I and most level II tumors were removed using straight forward occluding maneuvers with control of the contralateral renal vein. None of the patients had level III tumor extensions in our study group. For level IV thrombus, a beating heart surgery using a simplified cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) technique was used for retrieval of thrombus from the right atrium.

Results

“ Of the 34 patients with thrombus”, 19 patients had level I, 12 patients had level II, none had level III, and three patients had level IV thrombus. Two patients required simplified CPB. Another patient with level IV thrombus CPB, was not attempted in view of refractory hypotension intraoperatively. Pathological evaluation showed clear-cell carcinoma in 67.64%, papillary carcinoma in 17.64%, chromophobe in 5.8%, and squamous cell carcinoma in 8.8% of cases. Left side thrombectomy was difficult surgically, whereas right side thrombectomy did not have any survival advantage. Mean blood loss during the procedure was 325 mL, ranging from 200 to 1000 mL, and mean operative time was 185 min, ranging from 215 to 345 min. The immediate postoperative mortality was 2.9%. Level I thrombus had better survival compared to level II thrombus.

Conclusion

Radical nephrectomy with tumor thrombectomy remains the mainstay of treatment in RCC with inferior venacaval extension. The surgical approach and outcome depends on primary tumor size, location, level of thrombus, local invasion of IVC, any hepato-renal dysfunction or any associated comorbidities. The higher the level of thrombus, the greater is the need for prior optimization and the adoption of a multidisciplinary approach for a successful surgical outcome.

Right atrial extension of a giant retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma

Leiyomyosarcoma of vascular origin is uncommonly seen but mostly occurring in the inferior vena cava. We report a case of young male who presented with giant retroperitoneal leiyomyosarcoma which extended into the right atrium along Inferior vena cava.

Surgical treatment of renal cell carcinoma with right atrial thrombus: Early experience and description of a simplified technique

Operative management of patients presenting renal cell carcinoma's (RCC) with right atrial tumor thrombus extension is a technical challenge. It requires the use of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The aim of this study was to report our early experience and to describe a simplified CPB technique. 5 consecutive patients underwent surgical resection by a joint cardiovascular and urological team. The ascending aorta was canulated. The venous drainage was achieved using a proximal canula inserted in the superior vena cava and a distal canula inserted in the IVC below the renal veins. Right atrium thrombus extension was extracted under normothermic CPB without cross clamping or cardioplegic arrest. A cavotomy was performed at the ostium of the renal vein and an endoluminal occlusion catheter was introduced. The thrombectomy and the radical nephrectomy were then performed. The occurrence of gaseous or tumor embolism, operative time, perioperative bleeding, and post-operative complications were assessed. Mean patients age was 62.9 years. Atrial and caval thrombectomy were achieved successfully in all patients. Mean operative time was 206 min. Mean CPB time was 62 min. Mean hospital stay was 18.8 days. One death occurred, due to respiratory failure. An asymptomatic early thrombosis of the IVC was diagnosed by CT scan in 1 patient. The four remaining patients were alive 6 months after the surgical procedure. Minimally invasive CPB technique can be used to treat intra atrial thrombus tumor extension arising from renal cell carcinoma. It can be performed safely with acceptable complications rate.

Management of renal cell carcinoma with vena cava and atrial thrombus: minimal access vs median sternotomy with circulatory arrest

OBJECTIVE

To review our experience with approaches for managing renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with venous thrombi extension at and above the level of the hepatic veins, comparing surgery and peri-operative outcomes in patients with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with deep hypothermic cardiac arrest (DHCA) either by minimal access (MA) or traditional median sternotomy (TMS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 1986 to 2005, 50 radical nephrectomies with inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombectomies were performed at our institution using TMS (22 patients) and MA (28) techniques. Patient demographics were compared using Student's t-, Fisher's exact and Pearson chi-square tests. The duration of surgery, CPB, DHCA, mechanical ventilation, length of stay, and peri-operative transfusion requirements, were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Estimates of survival were constructed using Kaplan-Meier curves and analysed with the log-rank test. Subgroups were analysed excluding TMS patients undergoing concurrent coronary revascularization.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in patient demographics or comorbidities between the MA and TMS group. There were significant decreases in the MA vs the TMS group (P < 0.05) in the duration of surgery, mechanical ventilation, length of stay and peri-operative transfusion requirements. When patients with coronary revascularization were excluded, the MA group had significant decreases (P < 0.05) in duration of surgery, hospital stay and transfusion requirements. Peri-operative mortality was not statistically different between the TMS (14%) and MA (4%) patients. Overall and organ system-specific complications also were not statistically different. The overall median survival in the TMS and MA groups was 0.62 and 2.84 years, respectively (P = 0.06, hazard ratio 2.02; 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.97-4.72). Patients with tumour thrombus extending into the right atrium had a median survival of 1.02 years, vs 2.84 years with no intracardiac extension (P = 0.15, hazard ratio 1.82, 95% CI 0.81-4.0).

CONCLUSIONS

MA surgical techniques in conjunction with DHCA for the treatment of RCC with extensive tumour thrombus provides quicker surgery and a shorter hospital stay. In addition there was less requirement for mechanical ventilation and transfusion than with TMS. Our findings suggest that MA techniques provide significant advantages over TMS.

Renal cell cancer with invasive atrial tumor thrombus excised off-pump

We report a case of a 50-year-old man with right renal cell cancer extending into the inferior vena cava, invading the right atrial wall, and Budd-Chiari syndrome. Because of the patient's coagulopathy and extensive venous collateralization, cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest were avoided. Through an abdominal approach, the diaphragm was incised and the right atrium pulled into the abdomen and clamped. The invasive tumor thrombus was sharply excised off the atrial wall. If serious medical conditions do not permit the use of cardiopulmonary bypass, it is technically feasible to excise a wall-invasive atrial tumor thrombus off-pump.

Cavoatrial tumor thrombus excision without circulatory arrest

INTRODUCTION

Traditional methods of cavoatrial thrombus excision use deep hypothermic circulatory arrest with significant associated morbidity and mortality. We describe a novel technique that avoids circulatory arrest, yet provides a bloodless field for tumor excision.

TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS

A 59-year-old woman presented with a left renal mass and tumor thrombus with extension into the right atrium. After left radical nephrectomy, an aortic occlusion balloon was placed in the abdominal aorta at the level of the diaphragm, limiting flow in the inferior vena cava for tumor excision and maintaining both cerebral and spinal cord perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass. Tumor excision was successfully performed using this technique with minimal postoperative morbidity in the patient described. She remained free of recurrence at 9 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Cavoatrial tumor thrombus excision can be successfully performed without deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Anesthetic management of renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena caval extension

We present a case of a patient with renal cell carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava. Preoperative diagnosis was facilitated by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), and inferior venacavography. Intraoperatively, monitoring with continuous TEE was used. Preparation was made for cardiopulmonary bypass but surgery was successfully completed using extracorporeal venous shunting. We discuss the important aspects of preoperative diagnosis and the intraoperative anesthetic management of this case.

Unusual abdominal tumors with intracardiac extension. Two cases with successful surgical resection

Abdominal tumors that can grow through vascular lumen and spread to the right heart are rare. Although these tumors have different histologic aspects, they may cause similar abdominal and cardiac symptoms and are a serious risk factor for pulmonary embolism and sudden death when they reach the right atrium and tricuspid valve. The best treatment is radical surgical resection of the entire tumor using cardiopulmonary bypass with or without deep hypothermia and total circulatory arrest. We report the cases of two patients, the first with leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava and the other with intravenous leiomyomatosis of the uterus that showed intravascular growth up to right atrium and ventricle, who underwent successful radical resection in a one-stage procedure with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. We discuss the clinical and histologic aspects and imaging diagnosis and review the literature.

Usefulness of cardiopulmonary bypass in reconstruction of inferior vena cava occupied by renal cell carcinoma tumor thrombus

Aggressive surgical treatment in renal cell carcinoma is still controversial. The aim of this paper is to assess inferior vena caval (IVC) reconstruction for suprahepatic vena caval renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tumor thrombus. Twelve patients with suprahepatic vena caval thrombus from renal cell carcinoma who underwent surgical repair with cardiopulmonary bypass were evaluated. The vena caval defect was reconstructed by direct suture, patch repair, or graft replacement. Of 12 patients undergoing partial cardiopulmonary bypass, tumor thrombus extended to the junction of the hepatic vein in three patients and to the right atrium in one. Tumor thrombus was removed manually or with balloon catheter. Tumor thrombus in the right atrium was removed during electrical ventricular fibrillation. Repair of the IVC was performed by direct suture of the IVC wall in two patients, patch repair with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE) graft in seven, and graft replacement with an EPTFE graft in three. There were no operative deaths and the only postoperative complication was one patient death from pulmonary emboli. The four patients with nonlocalized disease died within 2 years, but four patients lived for more than 3 years postoperatively. Survival was 37.5% at 3 years and 18.8% at 5 years by the Kaplan-Meier's method.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) Partial cardiopulmonary bypass is useful for the control of bleeding when tumor thrombus in the IVC extends to the junction of the hepatic vein. (2) Nephrectomy with tumor thrombectomy of the IVC is valuable, and long-term survival is possible in patients without distant metastases or regional lymph node metastases.

Left-sided approach to renal cell carcinoma tumor thrombus extending into suprahepatic inferior vena cava by resection of the left caudate lobe

A new operative approach to resecting tumor thrombus originating from a right renal cell carcinoma extending into the suprahepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) is reported. Complete local control of the IVC must be obtained above and below the tumor thrombus to remove it under direct vision. The caudate lobe of the liver was resected to expose the retrohepatic IVC and open the lesser omentum. The subhepatic IVC was encircled just below the confluence of the hepatic veins. Caval tumor thrombus was removed en bloc, including the right kidney, by use of the total hepatic vascular exclusion technique (THVE) and IVC exclusion. The retrohepatic IVC was clamped just below the confluence of the hepatic veins once the thrombus was removed, and the suprahepatic IVC clamp was then released and the THVE was terminated. The sequential clamping from the suprahepatic IVC to the retrohepatic IVC below the confluence of the hepatic veins shortened the THVE time.

Renal cell carcinoma extending to the renal vein and inferior vena cava: results of surgical treatment and prognostic factors

Forty-seven patients with renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus extension to the renal vein or inferior vena cava (IVC) were treated surgically over a 10-year period. There were 41 males and 6 females with a mean age of 45.7 years. Thirty-three patients had right-sided and 14 had left-sided tumors. Patients with renal vein or infrahepatic IVC thrombus were treated with radical nephrectomy with tumor thrombus excision after achieving conventional vascular control over the IVC and the opposite renal vein. Four patients with retrohepatic IVC thrombus were treated with venacavotomy and thrombectomy after achieving vascular control above the thrombus but below the hepatic veins while two other patients with retrohepatic and one with suprahepatic thrombus required a bifemoroatrial partial venous bypass prior to tumor thrombectomy. There was one postoperative death due to pulmonary embolism. The actuarial 5-year survival for all patients with venous extension was 50% and the median survival was 4.35 years. Perinephric spread and lymph node metastases were significant prognostic factors affecting survival. This suggests that it is the locoregional spread of renal cell carcinoma rather than the level of the thrombus which governs the prognosis of patients with tumor thrombus extension to the renal vein or IVC.

Involvement of the inferior vena cava by renal tumour: surgical excision using hypothermic circulatory arrest

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the immediate and long-term results of a radical surgical technique in the treatment of renal tumours with extensive involvement of the inferior vena cava (IVC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Seven patients with extensive involvement of renal tumours into the IVC were operated upon using a cardiopulmonary by-pass, hypothermia and cardiac arrest to facilitate surgery. Wide exposure of the IVC in a bloodless field permitted complete removal of all visible tumour in each case. Histological sections confirmed renal cell cancer in six patients and Wilms tumour in a 15-year-old girl.

RESULTS

All patients recovered well from their surgery with no major complications and spent one or two days in the Intensive Treatment Unit and an average of 13 days in hospital after the operation. Of the seven patients, four are alive and well with no obvious disease after an average follow-up time of 30 months (range 8-54). The other three patients have died from disseminated renal cancer.

CONCLUSION

This procedure provides good local control of the tumour and offers the only hope of cure in patients with this disease. In collaboration with the surgical cardiac team it can be safely carried out with acceptable morbidity and mortality.

Renal cell carcinoma extending into the vena cava: surgical approach, technique and results

OBJECTIVE

To describe the technique and results of a thoraco-abdominal approach to removing the caval thombi in patients with renal cell carcinoma extending into the vena cava.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1970 and 1990 35 patients presenting with renal cell carcinoma extending into the vena cava were treated at the Department of Urology, Innsbruck. Twenty-three of these patients underwent radical tumour nephrectomy including cavotomy and thrombectomy or caval resection. A transabdominal approach had been used in this department for radical tumour nephrectomy including cavotomy and thrombectomy or caval resection until 1987. Since 1988, a thoraco-abdominal approach has been employed. In group I patients the approach was via the seventh intercostal space, whereas in group II and III patients the thoraco-abdominal incision was made through the fifth intercostal space. In the present study the anatomy of the thoraco-abdominal approach is described.

RESULTS

Tumour staging and grading yielded stage T3b in 15 patients (grade I, 1; grade II, 6; grade III, 8); another eight patients with stage T3b were found to have metastatic disease (N1, 6; N2, 2; M1, 3). On the basis of the extension of the caval thrombus the patients were classified as follows: group I, 16; group II, 3; group III, 4. In T3b N0 M0 patients the 5-year-survival rate was 62.5%, while in patients with positive lymph nodes the mean survival rate was 15.5 months.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the thoracoa-abdominal approach is the method of choice for the safe removal of renal cell carcinomas associated with caval thombi. If resection of the caval tumour is complete, prognosis is dependent on known factors, such as tumour invasion, nodal involvement and distant metastases rather than the extension of the tumour thrombus. An aggressive approach is not warranted in patients with nodal involvement and/or distant metastases, as it does not improve survival.

Preoperative computerized tomography detection of extensive invasion of the inferior vena cava by renal cell carcinoma: possible indication for resection with partial cardiopulmonary bypass and patch grafting

The relationship of the diameter of the inferior vena cava as measured by computerized tomography (CT) and tumor invasion of the inferior vena caval wall was determined in patients with renal cell carcinoma. In addition, the indications and usefulness of surgery using partial cardiopulmonary bypass and a polytetrafluoroethylene (Gore-Tex) patch graft are discussed. In all 7 patients with an inferior vena caval diameter of 40 mm. or larger on CT tumor had extensively invaded the vessel wall macroscopically and microscopically. Therefore, resection of the inferior vena caval wall and repair with a patch graft were necessary. Partial cardiopulmonary bypass was used in 6 of these 7 patients. On the other hand, of 11 patients with an inferior vena cava less than 40 mm. in diameter only 2 with extensive tumor invasion of the vessel wall underwent a patch graft procedure without partial cardiopulmonary bypass. One patient who had massive hemorrhage before bypass was started died while in a coma. The survival of the remaining patients ranged from 6 to 131 months (median 19 months). Blood loss in patients who underwent surgery with partial cardiopulmonary bypass was much less than that in patients without bypass. In our series, there were no complications related to the graft itself and graft patency was excellent. Our results indicate that an inferior vena caval diameter of 40 mm. or more on CT probably indicates extensive tumor invasion. Although further experience and observation are necessary to evaluate whether partial cardiopulmonary bypass and/or a patch graft improves the prognosis of patients with extensive inferior vena caval invasion by renal cell carcinoma, this method was relatively safe and decreased blood loss.

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.

Resection of nonrenal retroperitoneal tumors with large vena caval thrombi using cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermic circulatory arrest

Cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest is a useful adjunct in the operative management of renal cell carcinoma associated with large vena caval thrombi. We present 2 patients with nonrenal retroperitoneal tumors and extensive vena caval thrombi who underwent successful surgical treatment with this method. The primary tumor was a leiomyosarcoma of the vena cava in 1 patient and a pheochromocytoma with hepatic invasion in 1. Cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest is effective in decreasing the operative risk and improving the feasibility of resection in complex surgical cases. Consideration should be given to its use in a wider range of indicated procedures.

Surgical treatment of renal cell carcinoma with a tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium

We experienced surgical treatment on two patients having renal cell carcinoma with a tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium. In these patients, we performed nephrectomy, dissection of lymph nodes and removal of a tumor thrombus using cardiopulmonary bypass. One died of multiple organ failure 42 days postoperatively; the other was discharged from the hospital and is currently doing well 12 months after the operation. Cardiopulmonary bypass combined with hypothermia and low blood flow significantly facilitated removal of the tumor thrombus extending into the right atrium without the risk of pulmonary embolism or brisk hemorrhage.

Anesthetic management for surgical removal of renal carcinoma with caval or atrial tumor thrombus using deep hypothermic circulatory arrest

Twenty cases of renal carcinoma with tumor thrombus extending into the vena cava or atrium, in which cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) were used, are reviewed. Arterial, central venous (n = 9), or pulmonary artery catheters (n = 11), ECG, and rectal or bladder and pharyngeal temperatures were used for monitoring. The anesthetic was a high-dose narcotic supplemented with a nondepolarizing relaxant and a volatile agent. The surgery consisted of mobilization of the kidney followed by CPB via atrial and aortic cannulae, cooling via CPB, exsanguination, and removal of thrombus during DHCA. Duration of cooling was 21 +/- 7 minutes to a pharyngeal temperature of 15.8 degrees +/- 2.6 degrees C with alpha-stat pH management; DHCA lasted 26 +/- 10 minutes, and rewarming was continued to a mean pelvic temperature of 36.2 degrees C. Duration of surgery was 8.1 +/- 1.6 hours. The mean initial hematocrit was 33.5%, mean lowest Hct during CPB was 16.9%, and mean Hct at the end of surgery was 30%. Intraoperatively, 9.0 +/- 6.4 units of blood were used, and most patients received component therapy. Average crystalloid use was 7 L, and albumin or hetastarch (1.3 +/- 0.9 L) was used in 13 patients. One patient with severe cardiac disease could not be weaned from CPB. In the 19 operative survivors, there were no neurological deficits. There was one late death from pulmonary complications. The use of thiopental (n = 13), dexamethasone (n = 11), or mannitol (n = 19) was not clearly related to outcome. Hypothermia, hemodilution, alpha-stat pH management, and normoglycemia are believed to be important aspects of perioperative care.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cardiovascular evaluation before circulatory arrest for removal of vena caval extension of renal carcinoma

The use of cardiopulmonary bypass, deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest has decreased the risks of hemorrhage, tumor embolization, incomplete thrombus resection, and warm hepatic and renal ischemia associated with resection of renal cell carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava above the hepatic veins. Patients about to undergo this operation frequently have significant coronary artery and carotid artery disease, and are at risk for perioperative myocardial infarction and stroke. Preoperative evaluation of the coronary artery and carotid artery circulation by coronary angiography, duplex carotid artery scan and digital subtraction carotid angiography is recommended. Depending upon the severity and location of the cardiovascular disease a sequential or simultaneous operation may be performed. This surgical approach can be used in selected patients to facilitate complete tumor thrombectomy with a low operative risk.

Autotransfusion and blood conservation in urologic oncology

Autotransfusion is the reinfusion of the patient's own blood. Currently utilized forms include preoperative donation, perioperative hemodilution, and intraoperative salvage. The principal benefit of autotransfusion is a reduction in the complications associated with receipt of homologous blood products. Principal among these are febrile reactions, allergic and hemolytic reactions, alloimmunization, and the transmission of hepatitis and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. An additional benefit in the management of cancer patients is the avoidance of transfusion induced immunosuppression. Predeposit autologous transfusion is a simple and safe method to reduce patient's requirements for exogenous blood. Although well suited for cancer patients, predeposit programs remain underutilized with only 5% participation. Perioperative hemodilution can be a valuable adjunct in selected patients. Although the presence of malignancy has been regarded as a contraindication to the use of intraoperative autotransfusion, preliminary reports suggest that intraoperative autotransfusion can be safely used in patients undergoing surgery for urologic malignancies.

Management of a patient with Wilms's tumour extending into the right heart chambers: a case report and a review of other published reports

Wilms's tumours that extend by direct intravascular spread into the right side of the heart are rare. A case of such a tumour was diagnosed by ultrasound. A one stage resection was performed on cardiopulmonary bypass and with profound hypothermic circulatory arrest. It was followed by adjunctive chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The child was alive and tumour free 18 months later. A review of 17 other similar cases indicated that multimodal treatment is justified in patients with extensive intravascular spread of Wilms's tumours.

Surgical management of renal cell carcinoma with intracaval neoplastic extension above the hepatic veins

Cardiopulmonary bypass, hypothermia, temporary cardiac arrest and exsanguination represent the next logical step in the evolutionary management of intracaval neoplastic extension with renal cell carcinoma. This method of management provides control of the circulation of the entire body and allows for careful dissection in a bloodless field with less risk of embolization. From 1981 to 1986, 15 patients were treated with intracaval neoplastic extension of renal cell carcinoma above the level of the most inferior hepatic veins. In 6 patients mobilization of the vena cava with division of the hepatic veins to the caudate lobe allowed excision of the tumor and tumor thrombus without cardiopulmonary bypass (group 1). The remaining 9 patients underwent cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermia (group 2). There was 1 postoperative mortality in the entire group. Most patients had advanced regional disease but the feasibility of this technique has been demonstrated. Survival appeared to be less in the bypass group. Although some of the patients have had metastatic disease, the quality of life and survival have been prolonged in many of these acutely ill patients.

Venous bypass for surgical resection of renal carcinoma invading the vena cava: a new approach

A new technique is described which facilitates the surgical removal of renal carcinoma from the inferior vena cava. The use of cardiopulmonary bypass with or without cardiac arrest has been advocated but with this procedure only the inferior vena cava is bypassed, using femoral and right atrial cannulation, assisted by a closed system electromagnetic centrifugal pump. In appropriate cases this less complex technique allows prolonged access to the inferior vena cava whilst providing equal protection from pulmonary embolisation and tumour dissemination; it also reduces morbidity, operating time, difficulty and cost when compared with cardiopulmonary bypass.

Resection of large inferior vena caval thrombi from renal cell carcinoma with the use of circulatory arrest

Removal of a large extension of renal cell carcinoma into the inferior vena cava can be a difficult operation. Circulatory arrest is an operative technique that recently has been used to assist in resection of tumors that extend into the vena cava above the level of the hepatic veins. At our clinic 18 patients were operated on with the intent of using circulatory arrest during radical nephrectomy and inferior vena caval thrombectomy. Of the 18 patients 13 ultimately underwent this procedure, since the remaining 5 had unresectable tumors. One patient died intraoperatively of an adverse reaction to protamine after technically successful removal of the tumor and thrombus. Resection was successful in 12 patients and 9 remained free of disease with short followup. We believe that the addition of circulatory arrest during resection of a large inferior vena caval thrombus allows for an opportunity to resect the tumor in a controlled situation that reduces the potential for sudden massive blood loss or a major vascular injury, and ultimately makes the operation safer.

Surgical approach to inferior vena caval extension of renal carcinoma

Between 1979 and 1985, 10 patients were treated for renal carcinoma with extension into the inferior vena cava but without evidence of disseminated disease. Two of these had tumour thrombus extension up to the level of the hepatic veins and in four the extension was above the level of the diaphragm, two of which entered the atrium. Thrombus was removed en bloc at radical nephrectomy. Six patients are still alive, with a mean survival of 22 months. There was no correlation between the level of tumour thrombus and perinephric extension or indeed any correlation between tumour thrombus level and overall survival. It is suggested that tumour thrombus in the inferior vena cava, in the absence of metastatic disease, should be managed by radical surgery.

Hypothermic circulatory arrest for cardiovascular lesions: technical considerations and results

During a six-year period (1979 to 1984), the technique of hypothermic circulatory arrest was used to operate on 128 patients. Our technique included induction of hypothermia (20 degrees to 24 degrees C) by femoral artery cannulation for return of oxygenated blood, "open" aortic reconstruction, and brief periods of circulatory arrest (range, 5 to 31 minutes; mean, 13 minutes). Eighty patients had dissecting aneurysms of the ascending aorta (42 acute, 38 chronic), 28 had fusiform aortic arch aneurysms, and 13 had annulo-aortic ectasia. Seven had other procedures. Ages ranged from 14 to 79 years (mean, 54 years). Of the 113 patients (88%) who survived the operation and were discharged, 107 are currently alive and well. Only 15 of the 21 deaths occurred within 30 days of operation, and 5 (33%) were in severely hypotensive patients whose operations were begun during active resuscitation. Of the 80 patients admitted with ascending aortic or arch dissection, an in-hospital mortality of 7.5% was achieved. A marked reduction was observed in such complications as postoperative hemorrhage, renal failure, and pulmonary insufficiency with our current hypothermic perfusion methods. Moreover, none of the five neurological complications could be attributed to anoxic cerebral injury during the period of circulatory arrest. This experience indicates that moderate levels of hypothermia provide adequate cerebral protection for most cardiovascular procedures, and our results encourage continued use of this method.

Surgical management of renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena caval and right atrial involvement

A 52-year old man underwent successful surgical removal of renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena caval and right atrial involvement, under cardio-pulmonary bypass. The postoperative progress was uneventful and at this writing he is doing well, with no evidence of metastasis.

Supradiaphragmatic renal cell carcinoma tumor thrombus: indications for vena caval reconstruction with pericardium

Supradiaphragmatic extension of tumor thrombus from a renal cell carcinoma presents a major surgical challenge. The use of cardiopulmonary bypass, hypothermia and cardiac arrest with temporary exsanguination has allowed for successful surgical excision of these tumors. A renal cell carcinoma on the right side with a supradiaphragmatic tumor thrombus still may only partially occlude the vena cava. The collateral venous circulation of the left renal vein may be developed poorly and a pericardial patch can allow successful reconstruction of the inferior vena cava. If the tumor arises on the left side continued venous drainage of the right kidney is mandatory to prevent venous infarction of the right kidney. The entire vena cava also might be reconstructed theoretically with pericardium.