Foley catheter-assisted six-step thrombectomy technique in the surgical management of renal cell carcinoma with Mayo level II to IV tumor thrombus

Prevention, incidence, and risk factors of chyle leak after radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy

BACKGROUND

To define the incidence and risk factors of chyle leak (CL) after radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy and to determine the impact of chyle leak on oncological outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 445 patients who underwent radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy between January 2014 and January 2023 were included. CL is defined as the drainage of chyle with a triglyceride level greater than 110 mg/dL after oral intake or enteral nutrition. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors of postoperative (CL). The Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare overall survival and cancer-specific survival.

RESULTS

44 patients (9.9%) were diagnosed as (CL). All patients developed CL within 6 days after the operation with a median time of 3 days. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, Mayo grade and side were independent patient-related risk factors. In addition, operation approach, operation time, and number of lymph nodes harvested were independent surgery-related risk factors. Between the CL group and the non-CL group, neither overall survival nor cancer-specific survival showed statistical differences.

CONCLUSION

Based on this retrospective study of renal cell carcinoma and tumor thrombus patients in our center, we found that the risk factors were Mayo grade, side, operation approach, operation time, and number of lymph nodes harvested, and the occurrence of CL significantly prolonged hospital stay, but had no effect on long-term oncological outcomes.

Long-term outcomes after cytoreductive nephrectomy and thrombectomy of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma with venous tumor thrombus: a retrospective study from a large Chinese center

BACKGROUND

Targeted therapy combined with immunotherapy is the current first-line treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), but patients with tumor thrombus (TT) may suffer from lower limb edema or even sudden cardiac death, so the purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of surgical treatment in patients with mRCC and TT and explore worse factors to affect the prognosis in this series of patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 85 mRCC patients with TT who received cytoreductive nephrectomy and thrombectomy at our medical center from 2014 to 2023 are included. All patients received postoperative systemic therapy. Overall survival (OS) is defined as the time from surgery to death due to any reason or the last follow-up. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to evaluate OS and differences among groups were tested by log-rank. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to ascertain independent relationships between clinicopathological factors and OS.

RESULTS

The median age of patients was 58 years old. Eleven patients (12.9%) had no symptoms, 39 patients (45.9%) had local symptoms, 15 patients (17.6%) had systemic symptoms, and 20 patients (23.5%) had both. Mayo grade of TT was 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 for 12, 27, 31, 7, and 8 patients respectively. Fifty-five patients had lung metastasis, 23 had bone metastasis, 16 had liver metastasis, 13 had adrenal metastasis, and 9 had lymph node metastasis. Of all patients, 17 patients had multiple metastases. The median operation time is 289 min and the median intraoperative hemorrhage is 800 ml. Twenty-eight patients experienced postoperative complications, 8 of which were serious complications of modified Clavien grade III or higher. The median OS of all patients was 33 months and median follow up time was 26 months. In multivariate analysis, systemic symptom (p = 0.00753), pathological type (p = 0.0166), sarcomatous degeneration (p = 0.0334), and perirenal fat infiltration (p = 0.0202) are independent predictors of OS.

CONCLUSION

Cytoreductive nephrectomy and thrombectomy is relatively safe and effective for patients with mRCC accompanied by TT. In this series of patients, the worse prognosis is associated with systemic symptoms, non-clear cell carcinoma, sarcomatous degeneration and perirenal fat infiltration.

Comparative analysis of surgical and oncologic outcomes of robotic, laparoscopic and open radical nephrectomy with venous thrombectomy: a propensity-matched cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To provide insight into the surgical and oncological outcomes of robotic, laparoscopic and open radical nephrectomy with venous thrombectomy (RALRN-VT, LRN-VT, ORN-VT) in patients with renal tumor and venous thrombus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A propensity-matched retrospective cohort study containing 324 patients with renal tumor and venous thrombus from January 2014 to August 2021 was analyzed. We compared surgical outcomes and we used the Kalan-Meier method to assess the overall survival (OS), tumor-specific survival (TSS), metastasis-free survival (MFS) and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS). The Pearson chi-square test and Fisher exact test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, Cox proportional hazards regression model and log-rank test were used.

RESULTS

After matching, baseline characteristics were comparable in the RALRN-VT, LRN-VT and ORN-VT group. The RALRN-VT group had the least operative time (median 134 min vs 289 min vs 330 min, P < 0.001), the least blood loss (median 250 ml vs 500 ml vs 1000 ml, P < 0.001) and the fewest packed red blood cells transfusion (median 400 ml vs 800 ml vs 1200 ml, P < 0.001). The ORN-VT group had the highest complication rate (18.2 vs 22.7 vs 43.2%, P = 0.005), the highest Clavien grade (P = 0.001) and the longest postoperative hospital stay (median 7d vs 8d vs 10d, P < 0.001). No significant difference in OS, TSS and MFS between the minimally invasive procedures (MIP, including RALRN-VT and LRN-VT) group and ORN-VT group was found. The hazard ratio of LRFS for the MIP group was 0.20 (95% CI 0.06-0.70, P = 0.01) compared with ORN-VT group.

CONCLUSIONS

RALRN-VT can result in the best surgical outcomes compared with LRN-VT and ORN-VT. The MIP group had a better LRFS compared with ORN-VT group.

Clinicopathological Features of Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma With Venous Tumor Thrombus: Case Series from a Large Chinese Center

Background:

Few studies have reported the influence of the histological classification of type-2 papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC), which may differ from that of clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC), on the prognosis of renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus. We investigated the clinicopathological features and prognosis of type-2 PRCC associated with venous tumor thrombi (PRCC-TT).

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed 163 patients with renal cell carcinoma with venous tumor thrombus (RCC-TT) admitted to Peking University Third Hospital between June 2016 and June 2020. Twenty-five patients had type-2 PRCC-TT and 138 had ccRCC combined with tumor thrombus; there were 125 males and 38 females. All the included patients underwent radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy under either complete laparoscopic surgery or open surgery. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis were performed to evaluate the prognostic significance of each variable on cancer-specific survival (CSS). Cancer-specific survival was calculated from the date of surgery to death or the last follow-up using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results:

The blood vessels of type-2 PRCC-TT presented on CT images were not as abundant as those of ccRCC-TT. Slight enhancement was observed in the corticomedullary phase. While wash-out symptoms were observed, contrast agent extinction was not obvious in the nephrographic and excretory phases. We compared the macroscopic and microscopic appearances of the 2 cohorts. Compared to the ccRCC-TT cohort, lymph node invasion was more prevalent in the PRCC-TT cohort (88.0% vs. 60.9%, P = .009). Multivariate analysis revealed that sarcomatoid differentiation, distant metastasis, and pathological type were the independent predictors of poor CSS. The Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the CSS of type-2 PRCC-TT and ccRCC-TT were 23.5 and 38.4 months, respectively, with statistical significance (P = .002).

Conclusion:

Type-2 PRCC-TT varies with common ccRCC-TT in imaging manifestation and pathological characteristics. The prognosis of type-2 PRCC-TT patients was worse than that of ccRCC-TT patients.

Oncologic Outcomes of Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Radical Nephrectomy and Venous Thrombectomy: Prospective Follow-Up from a Single Center

Purpose

To evaluate the long-term oncologic outcomes of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients with venous thrombus after radical nephrectomy and venous thrombectomy (RN-VT) and to determine the prognostic factors.

Methods and Materials

We reported our follow-up data of RCC patients with venous thrombus from January 2014 to September 2020. We used the Kaplan-Meier method to assess the overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS). The Cox proportional hazards regression model and competing risk model were used.

Results

After a median follow-up of 31 mon, eight-five patients (31.5%) died, and cancer-specific deaths occurred in 60 patients (22.2%). The 1 yr and 3 yr CSS were 89.3% and 72.7%, respectively. The median OS was 56.0 mon (95% CI 47.6-64.3 mon), and the 1 yr, 3 yr, and 5 yr OS were 87.0%, 62.1%, and 44.8%, respectively. For M1 patients, the median OS was 27.0 mon (95% CI 22.0-42.0 mon), and the 1 yr, 3 yr, and 5 yr OS were 78.0%, 41.5%, and 23.3%, respectively. For M0 patients, the median RFS was 38.0 mon (95% CI 32.5-43.5 mon), and the 1 yr and 3 yr RFS were 81.2% and 52.3%, respectively. Multivariate analyses showed that papillary RCC (HR 2.95, 95% CI 1.80-4.82, P < 0.001) or other RCC (HR 3.88, 95% CI 2.03-7.41, P < 0.001), perinephric fat invasion (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.03-2.26, P = 0.04), sarcomatoid differentiation (HR 2.85, 95% CI 1.64-4.95, P < 0.001), Fuhrman grade 3 (HR 2.10, 95% CI 1.28-3.44, P = 0.003) or 4 (HR 3.55, 95% CI 2.09-6.03, P < 0.001), and distant metastasis (HR 1.76, 95% CI 1.18-2.63, P = 0.006) were associated with a worse CSS. Adjuvant therapy (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.43-0.92, P = 0.02) was associated with a better CSS.

Conclusions

RCC patients can have an acceptable long-term survival after RN-VT. Prognostic factors influencing CSS included nonclear cell RCC histology, higher Fuhrman grade, sarcomatoid differentiation, perinephric fat invasion, distant metastasis, and adjuvant therapy.

Laparoscopic conversion to open surgery in radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy: causal analysis, clinical characteristics, and treatment strategies

Background

We aimed to explore the causal analysis, clinical characteristics and treatment strategies of laparoscopic conversion to open approach (LCTOA) in radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy.

Methods

We included all patients with Mayo level I–III renal tumors with inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus who underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy as the first choice from May 2015 to July 2019.

Results

There were 70 cases of renal tumor with IVC tumor thrombus treated with a laparoscopic approach as the first choice; 31 Mayo level I, 30 Mayo level II, and 9 Mayo level III. A completely laparoscopic approach was performed in 51 cases (72.9%), and 19 cases (27.1%) underwent active or passive LCTOA. The LCTOA group had higher median preoperative serum creatinine (110.0 μmol/L vs 92.0 μmol/L; P = 0.026), longer postoperative hospital stay (9 days vs 7 days; P = 0.008), longer median operation time (374 min vs 311 min; P = 0.017), higher median intraoperative hemorrhage volume (1300 vs 600 ml; P = 0.020), and higher proportion of male patients (94.7% vs 66.7%; P = 0.016) vs the completely laparoscopic group, respectively. Although preoperative serum creatinine and gender were risk factors in the univariate analysis, multivariate analysis revealed no independent risk factors for LCTOA. We divided the reasons for LCTOA into active conversion and passive conversion; 4 (21.1%) cases underwent active conversion, and 15 (78.9%) underwent passive conversion. Most of the patients undergoing passive conversion had multiple concurrent risk factors, among which perirenal adhesion (30.9%), organ invasion (16.4%), and IVC adhesion (25.5%) were the most common. Fourteen (73.7%) cases underwent renal treatment, and 5 (26.3%) cases underwent tumor thrombus treatment.

Conclusions

The LCTOA group had a higher median preoperative serum creatinine concentration, longer hospital stay, longer median operation time, and higher median intraoperative hemorrhage volume. However, none of the predictors in our study was an independent risk factor for LCTOA. Perirenal adhesion, organ invasion, and IVC adhesion were the most common causes of LCTOA. Considering the limitations of this study, studies with large sample sizes are required to validate our conclusions.

PKUTHLP score: A comprehensive system to predict surgical approach in radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy

The present study aimed to develop an accurate preoperative scoring system to predict the probability of using laparoscopic surgery in radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy. The clinical data of 123 patients with renal cell carcinoma with renal vein or inferior vena cava tumour thrombus admitted to the Department of Urology at Peking University Third Hospital between January 2015 and May 2018 were retrospectively analysed. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to create the scoring system with an emphasis on the area improvement under the receiver operating characteristic curve. A total of 58 (47.2%) patients underwent complete laparoscopic surgery, 56 (45.5%) underwent complete open surgery and 9 (7.3%) underwent laparoscopic conversion to open surgery. The final multivariable model included the following three factors: Clinical node stage (P=0.030), Mayo classification (P<0.001) and tumour diameter (P=0.001). These three variables were then used to construct the score system named Peking University Third Hospital Laparoscopic Probability (PKUTHLP), which ranges from 0-5. The proportion of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for each level of the PKUTHLP score were as follows: 0 (n=20), 100%; 1 (n=34), 67.6%; 2 (n=21), 33.3%; 3 (n=21), 19.0%; 4 (n=23), 17.4%; and 5 (n=4), 0.0%. Overall, the PKUTHLP score accurately predicted the probability of using laparoscopic surgery in radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy; however, prospective validation of the PKUTHLP scoring system is required.

A modified surgical technique of shortening renal ischemia time in left renal cancer patients with Mayo level II-IV tumor thrombus

Background

To explore the safety and effectiveness of a modified surgical technique which could shorten the time of renal ischemia in left renal cancer and Mayo level II to IV inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus.

Method

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 14 cases with left renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and Mayo level II to IV IVC tumor thrombus from February 2015 to July 2019. Preoperative imaging showed that there was no obvious sign of tumor thrombus invading the blood vessel wall. During the surgery, after the right renal artery, the right renal vein and the distal end of IVC were blocked, the balloon catheter was used and the tumor thrombus was removed completely from the IVC. The incision of IVC was closed by Satinsky clamp to make IVC partially blocked. Then the right renal artery and right renal vein were released. The incision of IVC was sutured continuously. At last, the Satinsky clamp and the blocking band at the distal end of the IVC were released.

Result

There were 8 cases (57.1%) of Mayo level II, 3 cases (21.4%) of Mayo level III and 3 cases (21.4%) of Mayo level IV. The operation was successfully completed in all 14 patients. There were 2 cases (14.3%) operated by complete laparoscopic approach, 8 cases (57.1%) by open approach, and 4 patients (28.6%) by laparoscopic conversion to open approach. The occlusion time of right renal artery and vein (renal ischemia time) was 3 to 15 min, with an average of (6.8 ± 3.2) minutes. The mean time of IVC occlusion was (19.4 ± 4.9) min. Preoperative creatinine was 66 to 130 μmol/L, with an average of (96.6 ± 21.2) μmol/L. One week after operation, serum creatinine was 64 to 632 μmol/L, with an average of (132.4 ± 144.9) μmol/L. Among the 14 cases, 5 (42.9%) had early postoperative complications. Besides one of the 14 patients died in perioperative period, the median follow-up of other 13 cases was 10 months (range: 4–29 months). The 5 (35.7%) of the 14 cases were died of disease.

Conclusion

This modified procedure was relatively safe and effective in shortening the time of renal ischemia in left RCC patients with Mayo II to IV IVC tumor thrombus.