Objective: The purpose of this study was to review patients who underwent inferior vena cava (IVC) resection with concomitant malignant tumor resection and to consider the operative procedures and the outcomes.
Materials and methods: Between 2000 and 2012, 41 patients underwent resection of malignant tumors concomitant with surgical resection of the IVC at our institute. The records of these patients were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: Primary tumor resections included nephrectomy, hepatectomy, retroperitoneal tumor extirpation, lymph node dissection, and pancreaticoduodenectomy. The IVC interventions were partial resection in 23 patients and total resection in 18 patients. Four patients underwent IVC replacement. Operation-related complications included pulmonary embolism, acute myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, leg edema and temporary hemodialysis. There were no operative deaths. The mean follow-up period was 24.9 months (range: 2-98 months). The prognosis depended on the type and stage of the tumor.
Conclusion: Resection and reconstruction of the IVC can be performed safely if the preoperative evaluations and surgical procedures are performed properly. The IVC resection without reconstruction was permissive if the IVC was completely obstructed preoperatively, but it may also be considered in cases where the IVC is not completely obstructed.
Keywords: inferior vena cava; inferior vena cava reconstruction; inferior vena cava replacement; inferior vena cava resection; malignant tumor.