[Rupture of Artificial Blood Vessel by a Sternal Wire:Report of a Case].

Formation of a pseudoaneurysm due to blood leakage from the anastomotic site of the vascular graft in large-diameter vessels is often seen, but formation of a pseudoaneurysm from the non-anastomotic site is extremely rare. A 68-year-old woman presented with a history of double valve replacement for combined valvular disease at 37 years old and hemiarch replacement for thoracic aortic dilatation at 65 years old. She visited the emergency room with a 2-week history of chest pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a 5-cm-diameter pseudoaneurysm and extravasation from the ascending aorta, so emergency surgery was performed. Around the ascending aorta area, we confirmed bleeding from a 5-mm dehiscence in the non-anastomotic part of the graft prosthesis, so hemostasis was performed with a cross-stitch mattress suture over a felt strip. Initially, the cause of the pseudoaneurysm was unknown, but re-examination of CT images from after the previous hemiarch replacement confirmed contact between the sternal wire and graft prosthesis. The wire was thus considered to have caused damage and bleeding. The patient was discharged from the hospital with a good postoperative course and is being followed-up in the outpatient department.

[Dynamics Evaluation of Remodeling Operation Using 4-dimentional Computed Tomography].

OBJECTIVES: The extensibility of the aortic root after the remodeling procedure was evaluated using 4-dimentional computed tomography( 4D-CT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients( 13 males/4 females), mean age 52 years, who had undergone the remodeling procedure in the last 3 years were included. To understand the dynamics of the aortic root after reconstruction, the R-R interval on the electrocardiogram was divided into 10 equal parts, and the percentage change in area of the basal ring/Valsalva sinus/sino-tubular junction (STJ) level was calculated to evaluate the extensibility of the aortic root. For the basal ring, changes in ellipticity and circumference were also compared. RESULTS: Basal ring, Valsalva sinus, and STJ area changes with cardiac cycle were similar to those in the control group. Basal ring showed a regular circle in systole and an oval in diastole, and its circumference was enlarged in systole. CONCLUSIONS: The use of 4D-CT made it possible to evaluate the extensibility of the aortic root after remodeling procedure. In particular, the mobility of the basal ring is large, suggesting that it guarantees the physiological opening and closing of the valve and contributes to its durability.

[Pulmonary Artery Transection in Surgery for Coronary Artery Fistula].

Coronary artery fistula is a rare abnormality in the communication between a coronary artery and any of the cardiac chambers or major vessels. At present, there is no standard surgical treatment and the most appropriate method is selected on a case-by-case basis. We report one case of coronary artery fistulae in which pulmonary artery transection was required around the left main trunk (LMT). A 62-year-old man who had coronary artery fistulae with an aneurysm which increased from 12 mm to 16 mm in a two-year span. The fistula was located adjacent to the LMT. A complete aneurysm excision under cardiopulmonary bypass was performed, which required pulmonary artery transection. No postoperative complications occurred. Postoperative coronary computed tomography scan showed intact coronary arteries and complete aneurysm removal.

Successful left ventricular assist device re-implantation with omental covering for MDRP device infection.

We present a case of paracorporeal left ventricular assist device (p-LVAD)-related infection, caused by multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosae (MDRP), and successfully treated by p-LVAD re-implantation with omental covering. A 59-year-old man underwent p-LVAD implantation and coronary artery bypass grafting after percutaneous cardiopulmonary support and intra-aortic balloon pumping for cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction. Then, he was registered for heart transplantation. He suffered from blood stream infection causative organism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 2 months after that operation. He underwent re-median sternotomy and open drainage, 15 months after the p-LVAD implantation. However, he suffered from septic shock due to MDRP. He underwent p-LVAD re-implantation under hypothermic circulatory arrest and iodine gauze packing, followed by omental covering of the all artificial materials in his body 10 days after that operation. Soon after that, the infection was well controlled and the intravenous antibiotics could be discontinued 2 months after that operation. He successfully underwent heart transplantation, 17 months after that procedure. We concluded that p-LVAD re-implantation with omental covering is seemed to be useful in the treatment of massive device infection. This procedure might be a novel treatment for severe VAD-related infection until heart transplantation.

Direct visualization of postoperative aortobronchial fistula on computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative aortobronchial fistula (ABF) is a rare complication that can occur in 0.3%-5.0% of patients over an extended period of time after thoracic aortic surgery. Direct visualization of the fistula via imaging is rare. AIM: To investigate the relationship between computed tomography (CT) findings and the clinical signs/symptoms of ABF after thoracic aortic surgery. METHODS: Six patients (mean age 71 years, including 4 men and 2 women) with suspected ABF on CT (air around the graft) at our hospital were included in this retrospective study between January 2004 and September 2022. Chest CT findings included direct confirmation of ABF, peri-graft fluid, ring enhancement, dirty fat sign, atelectasis, pulmonary hemorrhage, and bronchodilation, and the clinical course were retrospectively reviewed. The proportion of each type of CT finding was calculated. RESULTS: ABF detection after surgery was found to have a mean and median of 14 and 13 years, respectively. Initial signs and symptoms were asymptomatic in 4 patients, bloody sputum was found in 1 patient, and fever was present in 1 patient. The complications of ABF included graft infection in 2 patients and graft infection with hemoptysis in 2 patients. Of the 6 patients, 3 survived, 2 died, and 1 was lost to follow-up. The locations of the ABFs were as follows: 1 in the ascending aorta; 1 in the aortic arch; 2 in the aortic arch leading to the descending aorta; and 2 in the descending aorta. ABFs were directly confirmed by CT in 4/6 (67%) patients. Peri-graft dirty fat (4/6, 67%) and peri-graft ring enhancement (3/6, 50%) were associated with graft infection, endoleaks and pseudoaneurysms were associated with hemoptysis (2/6, 33%). CONCLUSION: Asymptomatic ABF after thoracic aortic surgery can be confirmed on chest CT. CT is useful for the diagnosis of ABF and its complications.

Simultaneous upper and lower body perfusion using hypothermia during thoracoabdominal aortic surgery.

BACKGROUND: In open thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) repair, we have been performing vascular reconstruction under moderate to deep hypothermia and assisted circulation using simultaneous upper and lower body perfusion. This method is effective for protecting the spinal cord and the brain, heart, and abdominal organs and for avoiding lung damage. METHODS: TAAA repair was performed under hypothermia at 20-28 °C in 18 cases (Crawford type I in 0 cases, type II in 5, type III in 3, type IV in 4, and Safi V in 6) between October 2014 and January 2023. Cardiopulmonary bypass was conducted by combined upper and lower body perfusion, with perfusion both via the femoral artery and either transapically or via the descending aorta or the left brachial artery. RESULTS: The ischemic time for the artery of Adamkiewicz and the main segmental arteries was 40-124 min (75 ± 33 min). No spinal cord ischemic injury or brain or heart complications occurred. One patient with postoperative right renal artery occlusion and one with an infected aneurysm required tracheostomy, but the intubation time for the other 16 was 32 ± 33 h. The duration of postoperative intensive care unit stay was 6.5 ± 6.2 days, the length of hospital stay was 29 ± 15 days, and no in-hospital deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous upper and lower body perfusion under moderate to deep hypothermia during thoracoabdominal aortic surgery may avoid not only spinal cord injury, but also cardiac and brain complications.

Mechanism of Increased Spinal Cord Blood Flow due to Noradrenaline Administration Using Vascular Resistance: An Experimental Study Using a Canine Model.

Background: During thoracoabdominal aortic surgery, the spinal cord is placed under ischemic conditions. Elevation of systemic blood pressure is thus recommended as a method of increasing the blood supply from collateral networks. This study examined the mechanisms by which noradrenaline administration increases spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) by elevating systemic blood pressure. Methods: In beagles (n = 7), the thoracoabdominal aorta and L2-L7 spinal cord segmental arteries (SAs) were exposed and a distal perfusion bypass was created to simulate clinical practice. SCBF was measured by laser flowmetry at the L5 dura mater and spinal cord perfusion pressure (SCPP) was measured inside the clamped aorta. The six pairs of SAs from L2 to L7 were clamped, and mean systemic blood pressure (mSBP), SCBF, and SCPP were measured before and after clamping and after starting continuous infusion of noradrenaline at 0.5 µg/kg/min. Rates of change in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and spinal cord vascular resistance (SCVR) were calculated from the measured values. Results: With no SA clamping (control), the rate of increase in SCVR was 0.74 times the rate of increase in SVR (y = 0.2 + 0.74x, r = 0.889, r2 = 0.789; P < 0.01). When all six pairs of SAs were clamped, a weak correlation was evident between rate of change in SCVR and rate of change in SVR, and the rate of increase in SCVR was lower than the rate of increase in SVR (y = 0.39 + 0.07x, r = 0.209, r2 = 0.039; P < 0.01). When all six pairs of SAs were clamped in the absence of distal perfusion, a weak correlation was also evident between rate of change in SCVR and rate of change in SVR, and the rate of increase in SCVR was lower than the rate of increase in SVR (y = 0.19 + 0.08x, r = 0.379, r2 = 0.144; P < 0.01). Conclusions: The rate of increase in SCVR induced by noradrenaline administration was lower than the rate of increase in SVR in the control group with no spinal cord SA clamping and in both experimental groups with clamped SAs (with and without distal perfusion), creating an environment conducive to spinal cord flow distribution.

Open Repair for Patent Ductus Arteriosus Aneurysm in an Adult.

Ductus arteriosus aneurysm (DAA) is rarely encountered in adults. There have been several hypotheses regarding its origin and potential indications for intervention in asymptomatic cases. If left untreated, rupture, compression of surrounding organs, and serious complications due to thromboembolism may occur, and aggressive surgical intervention appears desirable for patients who can tolerate surgery. We report a case involving a 30-mm, saccular, patent DAA that was incidentally discovered in a 49-year-old man on computed tomography. Open repair was performed by femorofemoral bypass assistance, which allowed decompression of the aorta and aneurysm and successful closure of the aortic and pulmonary artery ends.

Survival and cause of death after aortic arch aneurysm repair.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify differences in prognosis, causes of death, and outcomes between open and endovascular repair for aortic arch aneurysms. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the survival status and causes of death determined from the medical records of 124 consecutive elderly patients (age>70 years) with aortic arch aneurysms that were treated between 2010 and 2018 at our hospital. Forty patients (male, N.=30; mean age, 76 years) underwent open repair and 84 (male, N.=68; mean age, 78 years) underwent endovascular repair. RESULTS: Early postoperative complications (10.0% vs. 6.3%; P=0.4) and rates of in-hospital death (2.5% vs. 6.3%; P=0.2) did not significantly differ between open and endovascular repair. Cumulative long-term and event free survival rates at eight years were similar in both groups (78.7% vs. 66.3%, P=0.1 and 66.6% vs. 58.4%; P=0.4, respectively). The causes of death at follow-up after endovascular repair comprised malignancies in 11 (52.4%) patients and cardiopulmonary and cerebral events unrelated to aortic aneurysms in 10 (47.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Early and late outcomes did not statistically differ after both procedures. However, the prevalence of cancer-related death occurring late after arch repair was significantly higher after endovascular repair. The most important observation from this series was that significantly more patients died of malignant disease during follow-up after endovascular repair than open repair.

A three-decade experience of radical open endvenectomy with pericardial patch graft for correction of Budd-Chiari syndrome.

BACKGROUND: We previously reported the value of our operative procedure for Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) that comprised reconstruction of the occluded or severely stenosed inferior vena cava (IVC) using an autologous pericardium patch and reopening as many occluded hepatic veins as possible. Here, we present the long-term durability and efficacy of the autologous pericardium patch for reconstruction of the IVC in BCS. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a series of 53 consecutive patients (mean age, 48.4 +/- 12.8 years; range, 24-76 years; 34 men) who underwent surgical treatment for BCS at our institution from 1979 to 2008. Patency of the IVC and hepatic veins was examined by venography at discharge. Patients attended an outpatient clinic every 1 or 2 months for follow-up. The reconstructed IVC was evaluated by enhanced computed tomography every 1 or 2 years. RESULTS: Two in-hospital (operative mortality, 3.7%) and 15 late deaths occurred. During a mean follow-up of 7.6 +/- 6.5 years (range, 0.08-24.1 years), the reconstructed IVC became totally obstructed in three patients, of whom two underwent reoperation, and severely stenosed in two patients, who required percutaneous transvenous balloon venoplasty (PTV). The 5- and 10-year patency rates without reoperation or PTV for the reconstructed IVC were 90.5% and 84.3%, respectively. The cumulative 5- and 10-year survival rates were 89.8% and 70.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The autologous pericardium patch is effective and durable for reconstructing a diseased IVC in BCS.

Direct Monitoring of Reconstructed Segmental Arterial Pressure during Deep Hypothermic Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surgery.

Deep hypothermia in thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm operations is considered extremely useful for ensuring sufficient time to reconstruct the segmental arteries feeding the spinal cord. However, because the amplitude of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) decrease or disappear during deep hypothermia, feasible methods for assessing spinal cord circulation have not yet been reported. Performing additional segmental arterial reconstructions that rely on MEPs is also impractical. In the present case, to ascertain spinal cord circulation under deep hypothermia, we intraoperatively measured the reconstructed segmental arterial pressure in real time and investigated whether sufficient spinal cord blood flow had been attained.

Transapical aortic perfusion using a deep hypothermic procedure during descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic surgery.

BACKGROUND: In descending thoracic aortic aneurysm (DTAA) or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) surgery, though proximal anastomosis using deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) is often selected, there are issues surrounding brain and heart protection. In this study, the usefulness of concomitant upper body perfusion via transapical aortic cannulation during deep hypothermic surgery was examined. METHODS: Between October 2014 and May 2019, 5 patients (Crawford extent II chronic dissection, N.=3; extent IV aneurysms, N.=1; DTAA, N.=1) underwent DTAA/TAAA repair under deep hypothermia using transapical aortic perfusion. A proximal anastomosis and artery of Adamkiewicz (AKA) reconstruction were performed under continuous perfusion of the upper and lower body at 20 °C. RESULTS: The time from aortic cross-clamping to proximal anastomosis was 69±33 minutes, and it took 86±47 minutes to AKA reperfusion. There was no spinal cord ischemic injury or brain or heart complications. One patient required tracheostomy, and the average postoperative intubation time for the other patients was 57±52 hours. All patients were discharged, and the average postoperative hospital stay was 25.6±8.1 days. CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant upper body perfusion by the transapical aortic approach contributes to avoidance of brain and heart complications and maintaining spinal cord circulation under deep hypothermic DTAA/TAAA surgery.

Infected thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms including the major abdominal branches in 4 cases.

We present four cases of infected thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA), including abdominal branches that underwent surgical repair. The mean age of patients at the time of operation was 61+/-18 (range: 39-83) years. The extent of the aneurysm was Crawford type III in 1 case and type IV in the other 3. They all underwent an emergency or urgent operation, which consisted of a debridement of the infected tissue, in situ four-branched Dacron graft replacement, and iodine gauze packing for 48 h followed by omental wrapping of the graft. To prevent postoperative spinal ischemia, intercostal and lumbar arteries were reimplanted under motor-evoked potential (1.25 pairs per patient). There was one (25%) hospital death, but postoperative graft infection did not occur in these present cases during a mean follow-up period of 15+/-43 (1-96) months. Antibiotics were administered intravenously for 8 weeks after the operation, then continued orally for a lifelong period. Postoperatively, paraplegia occurred in one (25%) patient. Our strategy for infected TAAA including major abdominal branches may prevent postoperative graft infection.

Direct reopening of the occluded hepatic veins of Budd-Chiari syndrome: verification of our operative method by the perioperative course of esophageal varices.

OBJECTIVE: A total of 69 patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) were operated by direct approach under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). To assess the operative procedure, the perioperative course of esophageal varices (EVs) was evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of the 69 patients, 59 (22 females) were enrolled in this study because they had complete follow-up data for endoscopic evaluation of EVs. Their mean age was 46.3 ± 13.0 years (range 21-73.3 years). EVs were found in 52 patients. Under partial cardiopulmonary bypass, the inferior vena cava (IVC) was incised. The obstruction of the IVC was excised, and the occluded hepatic veins were reopened. The incised IVC was reconstructed with an auto-pericardial patch. RESULTS: Postoperatively, the repaired IVC was patent in all patients. The average number of patent hepatic veins (HVs) increased from 1.23 ± 0.81 to 2.21 ± 0.97/patient. The pressure gradient between the IVC and right atrium (RA) decreased from 12.4 ± 5.52 to 4.46 ± 3.21 mmHg. The indocyanine green clearance test (ICG) at 15 min decreased from 31.57 ± 17.44 to 22.27 ± 15.23%. EVs had disappeared in 13 patients at discharge and in 6 patients at late postoperative follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our operative procedure for BCS is useful for decreasing portal pressure, which is reflected by disappearance of EVs. Therefore, the high risk of EV rupture could be avoided by reopening the occluded HVs.

Transapical aortic perfusion using a deep hypothermic procedure to prevent dissecting lung injury during re-do thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery.

BACKGROUND: Avoiding various complications is a challenge during re-do thoracoabdominal aneurysm surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old man had undergone surgery for type I aortic dissection four times. The residual thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm that had severe adhesions to lung parenchyma was resected. Since the proximal anastomotic site was buried in lung parenchyma, deep hypothermia was essential to avoid lung dissection and to protect the spinal cord during the proximal anastomosis. The deep hypothermia was induced with bilateral infusion of cardiopulmonary bypass by femoral artery cannulation for the lower body and by transapical cannulation for the upper body because of easy access. There was no hemorrhagic tendency after deep hypothermic bypass. The patient was discharged uneventfully. CONCLUSIONS: For upper body perfusion, transapical aortic cannulation was a simple and effective procedure during left thoracotomy.

Low-Grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma with Intravenous and Intracardiac Extension: A Multidisciplinary Approach.

Background. A rare case of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LG-ESS) extending to inferior vena cava (IVC) and cardiac chambers. Case Report. A 40-year-old woman had IVC tumor, which was incidentally detected by abdominal ultrasonography during a routine medical checkup. CT scan revealed a tumor in IVC, right iliac and ovarian veins, which was derived from the uterus and extended into the right atrium and ventricle. The operation was performed, the heart and IVC were exposed, and cardiopulmonary bypass was initiated. A right atriotomy was performed, and the intracardiac mass was removed. Then the tumor in IVC and the right internal iliac vein were removed after longitudinal venotomies in the suprarenal and infrarenal vena cava, the right common iliac vein. Next the pelvis was explored. Tumors were found originating from the posterior wall of the uterus and continuing into both the right uterine and ovarian vein. The patient underwent total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingooophorectomy. Complete tumor resection was achieved. Histopathological analysis confirmed a diagnosis of LG-ESS. She showed no evidence of disease for 2 years and 3 months. Conclusions. Our case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in treating this rare cardiovascular pathological condition through preoperative assessment to final operation.

Management of visceral malperfusion complicated with acute type A aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVES: The extent of visceral malperfusion due to acute type A aortic dissection remains difficult to assess in view of the clinical signs that typically present at a late stage. We suspected that visceral malperfusion can persist after proximal aortic graft replacement despite redirecting blood flow into the true lumen. We therefore evaluated the operative outcomes of visceral malperfusion complicated with acute type A aortic dissection. METHODS: Among 121 patients with acute type A aortic dissection treated at our hospital between January 2000 and December 2014, 10 (8.2%) were preoperatively complicated with visceral malperfusion. Eight of them had been treated by visceral arterial branch bypass followed by central repair, and 2 with circulatory instability had undergone central repair followed by laparotomy. RESULTS: The 2 patients who underwent initial central repair required extensive intestinal resection due to necrosis and died of multiple organ failure related to visceral necrosis in hospital (hospital mortality rate, 20.0%). The ischaemic time (interval between the onset of dissection and visceral arterial revascularization) was significantly longer for patients who initially underwent central repair compared with those who were initially treated by visceral arterial revascularization. However, base excess and lactate levels did not significantly differ between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that if visceral ischaemia is severe and extensive in patients with type A aortic dissection, abdominal surgery should proceed before the aorta is surgically approached to avoid further irreversible ischaemic damage caused by circulatory arrest in organs with compromised perfusion.

Directly measuring spinal cord blood flow and spinal cord perfusion pressure via the collateral network: correlations with changes in systemic blood pressure.

OBJECTIVE: During thoracoabdominal surgery in which segmental arteries are sacrificed over a large area, blood supply routes from collateral networks have received attention as a means of avoiding spinal cord injury. The aim of this study was to investigate spinal cord blood supply through a collateral network by directly measuring spinal cord blood flow and spinal cord perfusion pressure experimentally. METHODS: In beagle dogs (n = 8), the thoracoabdominal aorta and segmental arteries L1-L7 were exposed, and a temporary bypass was created for distal perfusion. Next, a laser blood flow meter was placed on the spinal dura mater in the L5 region to measure the spinal cord blood flow. The following were measured simultaneously when the direct blood supply from segmental arteries L2-L7 to the spinal cord was stopped: mean systemic blood pressure, spinal cord perfusion pressure (blood pressure within the aortic clamp site), and spinal cord blood flow supplied via the collateral network. These variables were then investigated for evidence of correlations. RESULTS: Positive correlations were observed between mean systemic blood pressure and spinal cord blood flow during interruption of segmental artery flow both with (r = 0.844, P < .01) and without (r = 0.834, P < .01) distal aortic perfusion. In addition, we observed significant correlations between spinal cord perfusion pressure and spinal cord blood flow with and without distal perfusion (r = 0.803, P < .001 and r = 0.832, P < .01, respectively), and between mean systemic blood pressure and spinal cord perfusion pressure with and without distal perfusion (r = 0.898, P < .001 and r = 0.837, P < .001, respectively). The spinal cord was perfused from the collateral network from outside the interrupted segmental arteries, and high systemic blood pressure (∼1.33-fold higher) was needed to obtain the preclamping spinal cord blood flow, whereas 1.68-fold higher systemic blood pressure was needed when distal perfusion was halted. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal cord blood flow is positively correlated with mean systemic blood pressure and spinal cord perfusion pressure under spinal cord ischemia caused by clamping a wide range of segmental arteries. In open and endovascular thoracic and thoracoabdominal surgery, elevating mean systemic blood pressure is a simple and effective means of increasing spinal cord blood flow, and measuring spinal cord perfusion pressure seems to be useful for monitoring perioperative spinal cord blood flow.

Successful treatment of pump pocket infection after left ventricular assist device implantation by negative pressure wound therapy and omental transposition.

A 52-year-old man suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy underwent implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) insertion as a bridge to transplantation. He presented with evidence of LVAD-related mediastinitis and pump pocket infection 57 days after the LVAD implantation. The mediastinum was reopened and irrigated. A large amount of pus was observed around the outflow and inflow conduits and in the pump pocket. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) was initiated. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was isolated from blood and mediastinal pus. Enterobacter cloacae was also isolated by mediastinal pus culture after the beginning of the NPWT. Three weeks after the start of the NPWT, the pus culture became negative, and omental transposition and sternal closure were performed. Intravenous antibiotics were administered until day 42, with the treatment subsequently switched to oral antibiotics. He was discharged from the hospital on day 57 and followed up at the outpatient clinic. Our findings suggest that NPWT followed by omental transposition be useful to treat mediastinitis or pump pocket infection after implantable LVAD insertion.

Early occlusion control of the intrapericardial inferior vena cava under femoral-femoral extracorporeal circulation using a technique to prevent pulmonary embolism during nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus: two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus extension into the inferior vena cava occurs in approximately 5% of cases. Despite such situations, an aggressive surgical approach is recommended. However, intraoperative prevention of pulmonary embolism by a fragmended tumor thrombus is necessary. To prevent pulmonary embolism, placement of a temporary suprarenal filter has been attempted, however, the precise placement of a temporary filter between the level of the hepatic vein and right atrium is not always easy because of its migration, tilting, and strut fracture. Here we report a method for early occlusion control of the intrapericardial inferior vena cava to prevent pulmonary embolism during nephrectomy in level II or III renal cell carcinoma tumor thrombus. CASE PRESENTATION: Our first case was a 37-year-old Japanese man with left renal cell carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava below the main hepatic vein (level II) and our second was a 75-year-old Japanese man with right renal cell carcinoma extending into the retrohepatic inferior vena cava at the main hepatic vein (level III). En block resection of the kidney and the tumor thrombus was performed with the aid of partial extracorporeal circulation; the postoperative course of both patients was uneventful. CONCLUSION: Control of intrapericardial inferior vena cava is a feasible method to prevent pulmonary embolism.