ABSTRACT
Objective:To clarify the anatomical characteristics and adjacent relationship of the superior segment of the inferior vena cava during laparoscopic surgery.Methods:In December 2018, two frozen and two fresh adult cadavers were dissected. The chest of the frozen cadavers was opened along the bilateral midline of the clavicle, the anterior pericardial wall was opened, and the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava was dissected. The abdominal cavity was opened along the midline of the abdomen, the left and right hepatic lobes were turned over, the inferior vena cava and the second hilum of the posterior segment of the liver were exposed, and the hiatus of the inferior vena cava was opened and entered the pericardium.The anatomical characteristics and adjacent relationship of the superior segment of the inferior vena cava were observed, and the length of the superior segment of the inferior vena cava was measured. The fresh frozen cadaver patients underwent laparoscopic surgery.Five 12 mm trocars were placed at the side of umbilicus, right rectus abdominis about 4 cm from umbilicus, midline of abdomen about 6 cm above umbilicus, right axillary front about 2 cm below inferior edge of liver, left midline of clavicle about 2 cm below inferior edge of liver. Laparoscopic-assisted turning of the left and right hepatic lobes, exposing the posterior inferior vena cava and the second hilum of the liver, opening of the vena cava hiatus into the pericardium.The anatomical characteristics and adjacent relationship of the upper diaphragmatic segment of the inferior vena cava were observed.Results:In two autopsies, the inferior vena cava entered the chest through the cava sulcus of the liver and the phrenic foramen cava, and then through the fibrous pericardium into the right atrium. The length from the diaphragm of inferior vena cava to the right atrium was 1.67 cm, 2.57 cm. In laparoscopic operation, the diaphragm entrance of the posterior segment of the liver inferior vena cava, the second hepatic portal and the inferior vena cava could be well exposed.The diaphragm could be opened along the hole of the vena cava with a relatively non vascular anatomical layer of adipose tissue.There was a large anatomical gap between the pericardium and the right atrium, and the inferior vena cava, the superior vena cava and the right atrium could be well exposed, and the whole diaphragm could be completely and continuously exposed from the bottom to the inferior vena cava at the entrance segment of the right atrium.Conclusions:There was a relatively avascular anatomical layer beside the inferior vena cava. During laparoscopic operation, opening the diaphragm through the abdominal cavity could safely enter the pericardium and expose the inferior vena cava, the superior vena cava and the right atrium, which provides a possibility for the removal of Mayo Ⅳ grade inferior vena cava tumor thrombus through this approach.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the feasibility and safty of robot assisted trans-diaphragmatic intropericardial inferior vena cava occlusion and thrombectomy in treatment of Ⅳa grade tumor thrombus without cardiopulmonary bypass and thoracotomy.Methods:The clinical data of 4 patients with renal cell carcinoma and Ⅳa grade tumor thrombus by robot assisted trans-diaphragmatic intropericardial inferior vena cava occlusion and thrombectomy from January 2013 to June 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The median age was 53.5 (53-70) years. The average body mass index was 23.25 (20.7-26.3) kg/m 2. The tumors were located on the right side in 2 cases. The average maximum diameter of the tumor was 8.1 (3.6-11.2) cm.Preoperative tumor thrombus of all patients was classified as Ⅳa. The average preoperative length of tumor thrombus in vena cava was 12.3 (11.8-18.0) cm. All the operations were performed under multidisciplinary cooperation of urology, hepatobiliary, cardiovascular, ultrasound and anesthesiologist team. Surgical procedure: Robot assisted liver mobilization was used to expose the inferior vena cava. Under the guidance of intraoperative ultrasound, the central tendon and pericardium of diaphragm were dissected until the inferior vena cava and right atrium in the superior pericardium were exposed. The first porta hepatis and inferior vena cava were blocked in turn.The vena cava thrombectomy and inferior vena cava reconstruction were performed. Results:All the operations were completed without conversion. The median operation time was 553.5 (338-642) minutes, and the median time of the first porta hepatis occlusion was 18.1 (14-32)minutes. The median blood loss was 1 900(1 000-2 600)ml. All patients were transferred to ICU after operation. The median length of stay in ICU was 7(4-8) days, and the median time of indwelling drainage tube was 8(4-12) days. The average postoperative hospital stay was 13(11-20) days. There were 1 case of grade Ⅱ and 3 cases of grade Ⅲ complications (Clavien classification). One case had paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, one case had lymphatic fistula, one case had pleural effusion with atelectasis, and one case had hepatic and renal insufficiency and lymphatic fistula. The complications were improved after treatment. There was no perioperative death.Conclusions:Robot assisted trans-diaphragmatic intropericardial inferior vena cava occlusion and thrombectomy is an alternative method for the treatment of Ⅳa grade inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. Using this method, Ⅳa grade tumor thrombus can be treated without cardiopulmonary bypass and thoracotomy, with controllable complications and zero perioperative mortality.