Robot-assisted Level III-IV Inferior Vena Cava Thrombectomy: Initial Series with Step-by-step Procedures and 1-yr Outcomes

Background: Level III-IV robot-assisted inferior vena cava (IVC) thrombectomy (RA-IVCT) has been reported in limited series.

Objective: To report our initial series of level III-IV RA-IVCT with step-by-step procedures and 1-yr outcomes.

Design, setting, and participants: From November 2014 to January 2018, 13 patients with level III-IV IVC tumor thrombi underwent RA-IVCT with a minimum of 1-yr follow-up.

Surgical procedure: Level III RA-IVCT requires liver mobilization and clamping of first porta hepatis (FPH), and suprahepatic and infradiaphragmatic IVC. Level IV RA-IVCT requires establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Thoracoscopy-assisted thrombectomy was performed for the intra-atrium part of the thrombus under CPB. Infradiaphragmatic RA-IVCT was completed in a manner similar to that of level III RA-IVCT.

Measurements: Detailed techniques were described for various scenarios. Baseline and perioperative outcomes were reported, and descriptive statistical analysis was performed.

Results and limitations: Median operative time was 465 (interquartile range [IQR]: 338-567) min. Median estimated intraoperative blood loss was 2000 (IQR: 1000-3000) ml. The rates of intraoperative blood transfusion and postoperative transformation to the intensive care unit ward were 92.3% and 100%, respectively. Median FPH blocking time was 40 (IQR: 25-60) min and the CPB time was 72 (IQR: 51-87) min. Three cases had grade IV complications, including two vascular injuries that were treated with intraoperative endoscopic sutures and one perioperative death. The perioperative mortality rate was 7.7%. During an 18-mo follow-up, two patients died and one patient progressed.

Conclusions: Although the risks involved are high, level III-IV RA-IVCT is feasible and serves as an alternative minimally invasive method for selected patients. It also requires more complex techniques and multidisciplinary cooperation.

Patient summary: We studied the treatment of patients with level III-IV inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombi using a robotic approach. This technique was feasible for well-selected patients. However, level III-IV robot-assisted IVC thrombectomy requires more complex techniques and multidisciplinary cooperation.