Paul David Morris1, Ruelan Furtado2, Carlo Pulitano3, Michael Crawford3, David Yeo4, Arthur Vasilaras5, Charbel Sandroussi6. 1. Surgical Outcomes Research Centre (SOuRCe), Sydney Local Health District and Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; The Institute of Academic Surgery at RPA, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: morris.pd@gmail.com. 2. The Institute of Academic Surgery at RPA, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia. 3. Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 4. The Institute of Academic Surgery at RPA, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia; Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 5. Department of Urology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. 6. Surgical Outcomes Research Centre (SOuRCe), Sydney Local Health District and Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; The Institute of Academic Surgery at RPA, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia; Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess the postoperative complication rate and overall survival when bovine pericardium is used as graft material for inferior vena cava (IVC) reconstructions in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The ideal graft material is yet to be established, with synthetic grafts widely studied and used in the current literature. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of consecutive patients who underwent IVC reconstructions as part of resection for RCC, using bovine pericardium as either a patch repair or tubular interposition graft. RESULTS: A total of 15 patients underwent resection with IVC reconstruction between 2010 and 2018. Nine patients had tubular interposition grafts and 6 had patch repairs. Three patients had Clavien-Dindo grade 3 or higher short-term complications. There was no difference in Comprehensive Complications Index between those who had interposition grafts and patch repairs. Two patients had a long-term graft-associated thrombus requiring temporary anticoagulation. Overall survival was 46.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 36.9-56.1). There were no perioperative deaths. All long-term deaths were due to disease progression. CONCLUSION: Reconstruction of the IVC with a bovine pericardium graft is safe in experienced centers. Bovine pericardium could be considered as the material of choice, given its safety in the immediate postoperative period, ease of use, and patency without routine long-term anticoagulation. Advanced surgical management leads to good overall survival in this cohort with high tumor burden.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the postoperative complication rate and overall survival when bovine pericardium is used as graft material for inferior vena cava (IVC) reconstructions in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The ideal graft material is yet to be established, with synthetic grafts widely studied and used in the current literature. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of consecutive patients who underwent IVC reconstructions as part of resection for RCC, using bovine pericardium as either a patch repair or tubular interposition graft. RESULTS: A total of 15 patients underwent resection with IVC reconstruction between 2010 and 2018. Nine patients had tubular interposition grafts and 6 had patch repairs. Three patients had Clavien-Dindo grade 3 or higher short-term complications. There was no difference in Comprehensive Complications Index between those who had interposition grafts and patch repairs. Two patients had a long-term graft-associated thrombus requiring temporary anticoagulation. Overall survival was 46.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 36.9-56.1). There were no perioperative deaths. All long-term deaths were due to disease progression. CONCLUSION: Reconstruction of the IVC with a bovine pericardium graft is safe in experienced centers. Bovine pericardium could be considered as the material of choice, given its safety in the immediate postoperative period, ease of use, and patency without routine long-term anticoagulation. Advanced surgical management leads to good overall survival in this cohort with high tumor burden.