The importance of intraoperative transoesophageal monitoring when operating on renal cancers that involve the right atrium.

The surgical treatment of advanced renal cancers is challenging. Renal cell carcinoma is interesting in that it invades the vasculature and can extend up as far as the right atrium. Extension of tumour thrombus into the right atrium represents level IV disease, according to Robson staging. Transoesophageal echocardiography is useful for diagnostic purposes. It is also of great value for intraoperative cardiac monitoring and to confirm the extent of vascular involvement.