Long-term Outcomes of Surgical Strategy for Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma Extending into the Inferior Vena Cava Requiring Intervention by a Vascular Surgeon

Background

To evaluate the long-term surgical outcomes of advanced renal cell carcinoma with a thrombus extending into the inferior vena cava (IVC).

Methods

From 2008 to 2023, 29 patients underwent radical nephrectomy with IVC reconstruction. Surgical procedures were stratified by the cephalad extension of the IVC thrombus: from the renal vein into the infrahepatic segment (level I, n = 2), below the hepatic vein (level II, n = 20), and into the suprahepatic segment (level > III, n = 7; including 1 level IV).

Results

IVC reconstruction was performed by direct suturing in 18 patients (62.1%), patch repair in 8 (27.6%), and graft replacement in 3 (10.3%). Operative outcomes for levels I, II, and >III were associated with the rate of thoraco-laparotomy (0%, 5.0%, and 43.9%, respectively) and use of cardiopulmonary bypass (0%, 5.0%, and 85.7%, respectively). Although 1 level III patient (3.4%) died due to acute pulmonary embolism during surgery, there was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications according to the level of tumor thrombus extension. The 5-year overall survival and cause-specific survival were 53.8% and 65.7%, respectively.

Conclusion

Although tumor thrombus extension can influence surgical invasiveness, our strategy did not impact perioperative outcomes and may enhance advanced renal cell carcinoma prognosis.