Robot-assisted supradiaphragmatic inferior vena cava thrombectomy without cardiopulmonary bypass: surgical experience with 4 case reports / 中华泌尿外科杂志

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.