Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Resections without Reconstruction in Renal Tumors: Two Case Reports

Abstract

(1) Background: We aim to present our experience with resection of the inferior vena cava (IVC) without reconstruction in two patients diagnosed with renal tumors. (2) Case Report: The first case was diagnosed with right renal vein sarcoma and the second case was diagnosed with clear cell renal carcinoma; both presented signs of invasion and thrombosis of the IVC at infrarenal and cruoric levels, along with the development of collateral circulation with the help of the paravertebral plexus. In both patients, en bloc right nephrectomy was performed along with the resection of the thrombosed IVC without further reconstruction. In the case of the patient with right vein sarcoma, preservation of the left renal and caval intrahepatic vein was possible, whilst in the second case diagnosed with clear cell renal carcinoma, the associated left renal thrombosis also enforced the resection of the left renal vein. (3) Discussion: Postoperative evolution was favorable in both cases and did not exhibit major complications. Antibiotic therapy, analgesics, and anticoagulant medication were administered at therapeutic doses after surgery in both cases. The histopathological examination of the surgical specimen confirmed the diagnoses of renal vein sarcoma in the first case and clear cell renal carcinoma in the second case. Surgical treatment and adjuvant chemotherapy prolonged survival for two years for the first case and for two months, up until this moment, for the second case. The survival of clear cell renal carcinoma is currently at two months. (4) Conclusions: The resection of the inferior vena cava, without subsequent reconstruction in cases presenting diffused distal thrombosis, can represent an alternative to IVC reconstruction, which might lead to a major ulterior risk of thrombosis. In some cases, this can result in long-term survival.