The analysis of anesthetic management for renal cell carcinoma with associated inferior vena cava tumor thrombus

Objective To explore the key points of anesthetic management for renal cell carcinoma combined with inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus. Methods Twenty-seven cases of renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus underwent radical nephrectomy and inferior caval venous thrombectomy were reviewed retrospectively during January 2014 to January 2017 in our hospital.Analyzed data includs demographics, classification of tumor, perioperative anesthetic management and monitoring approaches, IVC clamping time , vital signs during cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB), estimated blood loss (EBL), usage of blood products, hospitalization time and ICU time , as well as postoperative outcomes. Results Clinical staging revealed 5 patients(18.5%) with classⅠtumor thrombus, 11 patients(40.7%) with levelⅡtumor thrombus, 6 patients (22.2%) with level Ⅲ tumor thrombus and 5 patients (18.5%) with level Ⅳ tumor thrombus. All patients had underwent a balanced general anesthesia technique with volatile agents, opioids and muscle relaxants. In addition to standard ASA monitors, all patients had direct arterial pressure and central venous pressure monitoring, and blood warming and infusing system. TEE was utilized in 9(33.3%)patients and in which contains all 5 patients(100%)with level Ⅳ tumor thrombus. Intraoperative TEE guidance resulted in a significant surgical plan modification in 1 patient(11.1%). Compared to patients with class Ⅰ(313 (136, 346) min), classⅡ(302(245, 393)min)and classⅢthrombus tumor(391(272, 505)min), patients with Class Ⅳ had longer operating time (525(481, 647)min, P 0.05) within theses group. The probability of pumping norepinephrine of Class Ⅰ(8(8, 9)min), Class Ⅱ(20(13, 26)min), and Class Ⅲ(10(6, 25)min)had no significant difference (χ2=5.147, P>0.05). Perioperative mortality was 7.4%. Conclusions The anesthetic management of Inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus is rather challenging.The preoperative evaluation with accurate classification of the tumor and the intraoperative intense monitoring of vital signs with appropriate reaction are the key points of anesthetic management for this kind of surgery. Key words: Kidney neoplasms; Vena cava, inferior; Anesthesia