Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy and Inferior Vena Cava Thrombectomy in the Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Radical nephrectomy with inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombectomy is the preferred treatment for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with IVC thrombus. However, IVC thrombectomy using a laparoscopic approach has not been reported for high-level thrombi.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the surgical technique for laparoscopic IVC thrombectomy in patients with different thrombus levels and to assess its safety and feasibility.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective review of medical records for 11 patients with right-side RCC, including six patients with level II IVC thrombus and five patients with level IV thrombus.

SURGICAL PROCEDURE: Laparoscopic thrombectomy for level II thrombus was performed after clamping the infrarenal IVC, left renal vein, and infrahepatic IVC. Laparoscopic thrombectomy and thoracoscope-assisted open atriotomy for level IV thrombus were performed after establishing cardiopulmonary bypass and clamping the infrarenal IVC, left renal vein, and hepatoduodenal ligament.

MEASUREMENTS: The intraoperative variables, postoperative complications, and surgical outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: The median operative time was 210min. The median IVC clamping time for patients with level II and level IV thrombus was 16.5 and 31min, respectively. The median estimated blood loss was 510ml, and no major intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. One patient with level IV thrombus died of brain metastasis 6 mo after the operation, and the remaining ten patients had no local recurrence or distant metastasis during a median follow-up period of 31 mo.

CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic IVC thrombectomy for level II thrombus and well-selected level IV thrombus may be a safe and technically feasible alternative to open surgery.

PATIENT SUMMARY: We studied the treatment of patients with an inferior vena cava thrombus at different levels using a laparoscopic approach. This technique was safe and feasible in well-selected patients.