OBJECTIVETo assess the feasibility and safety of excising or patching the inferior vena cava (IVC) without replacement in patients with primary retroperitoneal tumors (PRPT) involving the IVC.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted in 116 consecutive patients with PRPT presented to our Hospital between December 2007 and December 2008. IVC involvement was found in 11.2% of the cases, and in 93 cases receiving surgical tumor removal, the complete resection rate was 93.55%. According to the location of IVC involvement by the PRPT, the cases were classified into 3 groups with IVC involvement in the segment from the second hepatic portal vein to the renal vein (segment A), the segment on the bilateral renal vein plane (segment B), and the segment from the caval bifurcation to the renal vein (segment C).

RESULTSThe most common vascular involvement occurred in segment C (61.54%, 8/13), and 2 cases presented with segment A involvement and 2 had segment B involvement. All the 3 segments of IVC were involved in 1 case. Five cases with IVC involvement received IVC patching only, and 4 had resection or ligation of the segment C of the IVC, and resection of the segment A and B of the IVC was performed in 2 and 1 case, respectively. One patient received complete resection of whole IVC involved. All patients recovered smoothly and were discharged.

CONCLUSIONThe infrarenal IVC can be ligated or resected safely without reconstruction. Combined resection of the bilateral renal vein and segment B of the IVC may result in renal insufficiency. IVC involvement and occlusion between the second hepatic portal and renal veins can be ligated safely without affecting the renal function.