Nephrectomy With Thrombectomy Of Inferior Vena Cava Occlusion

In this material we can see an endoluminal occlusion of the inferior vena cava during nephrectomy with thrombectomy. The incidence of renal cell carcinoma has been rising over the past few decades. The kidneys are highly vascular, and renal cell carcinoma has a tendency to produce clots or thrombi that often extend beyond the kidney. This may occur in 4% to 10% of patients with renal cell carcinoma. Tumor thrombi can extend from the kidney into the renal vein, which is the short, thick vein leaving the kidney, and then into the inferior vena cava (IVC), which is the large vein bringing blood from the lower extremities, pelvis, and abdomen to the right atrium of the heart. In some instances, the malignant tumor thrombus adheres to the IVC wall. In the absence of tumor spread beyond the kidney, blood vessel involvement even into the vena cava does not necessarily indicate poor prognosis.