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Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of different surgical procedures of Mayo level Ⅳ inferior vena cava tumor thrombus(IVC-TT).Methods:The clinical and pathological data of 36 patients with Mayo level Ⅳ tumor thrombus were collected in three large clinical centers in China, including 18 cases in PLA General Hospital, 7 cases in Nanfang Hospital, and 11 cases in Renji Hospital. There were 25 males and 11 females.The median age was 56.5 years (53-67 years old). The average body mass index was 24.18±2.55 kg/m 2. The average diameter of renal tumors was 8.24±3.25 cm. The average length of inferior vena cava tumor thrombus was 12.89±2.50 cm. Mayo level Ⅳ tumor thrombus were divided into level Ⅳa and level Ⅳb (301 classification) based on the criterion of whether the proximal end of the thrombus has invaded the right atrium. Among them, level Ⅳa patients underwent robot-assisted inferior vena cava thrombectomy without cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB-free group, 6 cases). Level Ⅳb patients underwent robot-assisted inferior vena cava thrombectomy with cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB group, 12 cases) or cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest assisted inferior vena cava thrombectomy(CPB/DHCA group, 18 cases). The baseline data of the three groups of patients were comparable. The perioperative results and long-term survival data after surgery were compared with different surgical methods for grade Ⅳcancer thrombosis. Results:All operations were successfully completed. Compared with the CPB group, the CPB-free group had a shorter first portal blocking time[17.5(15-36)min vs. 36.5(12-102)min, P=0.044], less intraoperative bleeding [2 350(1 000-3 000)ml vs. 3 500 (1 500-12 000)ml, P=0.043] and a lower allogeneic blood transfusion [1 250(500-2 000)ml vs. 2 185(700-5 800)ml, P=0.049]. Compared with the CPB/DHCA group, the CPB-free group had an advantage in reducing intraoperative allogeneic blood transfusion [1 250(500-2 000)ml vs. 2 700(1 200-10 000)ml, P=0.003]. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of duration of surgery and postoperative hospital stay. Among the 36 patients in this group, 23(64%) developed major complications (level Ⅲ or above), including 9 (25%) grade Ⅲ, 12 (33%) grade Ⅳ, and 2 (6%) grade Ⅴ. The CPB-free group had a relatively low complication rate of grade Ⅳ or above [ 17% (1/6) vs.42% (5/12) vs.44% (8/18)]. There were no statistical differences in median progression-free survival (16.4 vs.12.3 vs.18.0 months, P=0.695) and overall survival (30.1 vs.30.2 vs.37.7 months, P=0.674) between the groups. Conclusions:Robot-assisted inferior vena cava thrombectomy without cardiopulmonary bypass has the advantages of short ischemia time of organs, less intraoperative bleeding, and low incidence of major complications, which can be used as a safe and feasible surgical strategy for selected level Ⅳ tumor thrombus.
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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.
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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.
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Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of presurgical TMT on the heights and levels of inferior vena cava(IVC)thrombi,and to assess its impact on surgical strategy.Methods We retrospectively reviewed data of 18 patients with renal cell carcinoma(RCC)involving IVC tumor thrombi who were treated at our hospital with presurgical TMT followed by an IVC thrombectomy.Data from 18 patients(16 men and 2 women)were included in the analysis.The median age was 53.5 years(range:33-75 years),and the mean BMI was 24.7kg/m2(rrange:18.1 -30.4 kg/m2).4 cases of tumors located in the left kidney,14 cases were right.The changes in heights and levels of the IVC thrombi were compared using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging.The IVC tumor thrombus level was evaluated according to the Mayo classification.Results The tumor thrombus levels before TMT were stage Ⅰ in 1 patient,Ⅱ in 1 2 patients,Ⅲ in 4 patients,and Ⅳ in 1 patient.The presurgical TMT was sorafenib in 6 patients(33.3%),sunitinib in 9(50.0%),and axitinib in 3(16.7%).After a median of 2 treatment cycles(range:1-6 cycles),three patients experienced grade 3 adverse events.One patient stopped treatment after 6 weeks owing to intolerable skin reactions and difficulty walking.The tumor thrombus height decreased measurably in 11 patients(61.1%).The thrombus height remained stable in 5 patients(27.8%)and was enlarged in 2(11.1%).The median reduction of tumor thrombus height was -0.53 cm (range:-4.23 to 1.21 cm).The median change in the maximum diameter of the thrombus was -0.30 cm (range:-1.23 to 0.29 cm).Down-staging of the thrombus level occurred in 4 patients(22.2%);the surgical strategy was modified in 3 patients(level≥Ⅲ)to avoid cardiopulmonary bypass and complicated liver mobilization under robot-assisted laparoscopy.Conclusions Our data suggest a limited influence of presurgical TMT,with a positive benefit in RCC patients with level Ⅲ and Ⅳ thrombus.Thrombus-level regression may potentially alter the surgical strategy,especially robotic surgery.Additionally,preoperative targeted therapy did not significantly increase perioperative mortality and risk of serious complications.