Vena cava replacement for malignant disease: is there a role?

Resection and graft replacement of the vena cava for malignant disease is rarely performed, often because of the advanced tumor stage. Since August 1987 we have selectively performed caval replacement in conjunction with tumor resection in 11 patients. Three patients had superior vena cava reconstruction (SVCR) and eight had inferior vena cava replacement (IVCR). There were six males and five females whose mean age was 59.3 years (range 24 to 75 years). Two patients, each with superior vena cava obstruction, presented with symptoms from venous compression. Malignancies involving the superior vena cava were thyroid carcinoma in two patients and lymphoma in one. Cancers requiring IVCR were leiomyosarcoma in three patients, cholangiocarcinoma in two, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and colon carcinoma metastatic to the liver in one each. All IVCRs and two SVCRs were performed with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts. The remaining SVCR was constructed with spiral saphenous vein. Six IVCRs involved replacement of the retrohepatic inferior vena cava in conjunction with major liver resection. Mean intraoperative blood transfusions were 5.3 units (range 0 to 10 units). There were no operative deaths. Complications occurred in four patients and included postoperative bleeding in two, myocardial infarction in one, and wound infection in one. There were no perioperative graft occlusions, but one patient developed graft occlusion 2 months after SVCR. All IVCR grafts have remained patent (mean follow-up of 8.8 months). Two patients with SVCRs have died from recurrent cancer at 3.2 and 3.4 years postoperatively. Six patients with IVCRs have developed tumor recurrence either locally (n = 1), at a distant site (n = 2), or both (n = 3). Importantly, eight of nine survivors have an excellent performance status. We conclude that vena cava reconstruction for malignancy can be performed safely, has few graft-related complications, and in some patients may offer the only possibility for tumor control.