Segmental resection of interior vena cava for tumoural invasion without reconstruction

Study aim: Oncological complete surgery of retroperitoneal tumours may requ ire segmental resection of pari of the invaded inferior vena cave. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess whether reconstruction of the inf erior vena cave is necessary and presents any advantage. Patients and methods: This study included four patients who underwent parti al resection of the inferior vena cava invaded by retroperitoneal tumour, w ithout reconstruction. Tumours were one renal cancer, one malignant phaeoeh romocytoma, one malignant retroperitoneal histiofibroma and one undifferent iated retroperitoneal carcinoma. The resection was located at the level of the renal confluence, associated with right nephrectomy, in 3 patients, and above this confluence, at the level of the retrohepatic inferior vena cava in 1 patient. Results: Only one case of transient acute renal failure was observed during the postoperative course. One patient developed; right deep vein thrombosi s after three months and another one after 30 months. One patient died from cancer recurrence after 19 months, The other 3 patients were alive with an ticoagulant therapy and without sequelae after 3, 6 and 15 years. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.