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* From the Service d'Anesthésie et de Réanimation Chirurgicale, Hôpital G et R Laënnec, CHU Nantes, 44093 Nantes, France and
Service de Chirurgie Vasculaire, Service d'Anesthésie et de Réanimation Chirurgicale, Hôpital G et R Laënnec, CHU Nantes, 44093 Nantes, France.
Address correspondence to: Dr. Y. Blanloeil, Service d'Anesthésie et de Réanimation Chirurgicale, Hôpital G et R Laënnec, Boulevard J Monod, CHU Nantes, 44093 Nantes, Cedex 01, France. Phone: 33-02-40-165304; Fax: 33-02-40-165294; E mail: yvonnick.blanloeil{at}chu-nantes.fr
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Clinical features: Resection of a primary tumour of the inferior vena cava without extension to the right atrium was scheduled without extra-corporeal circulation (ECC). The operation consisted of tumour excision with transtumoral clamping. During the immediate postoperative period, tricuspid obstruction was suspected when a "cannon a wave" was recorded from the right atrial pressure curve. Transesophageal echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis of tumour obstruction of the tricuspid valve.
Conclusion: Tricuspid obstruction due to postoperative mobilization of a primary tumour of the inferior vena cava was diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography. Perioperative management particularities of the primary tumour of the vena cava are discussed.
PRIMARY tumours of the inferior vena cava are extremely rare, and there are no reports of the anesthetic management involved in their excision.1–3 We report a case of mobilization of an inferior vena cava tumour that was responsible for postoperative acute tricuspid obstruction. Transesophageal echocardiographic data and hemodynamic developments are considered as surgical difficulties of removing the tumour.
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After premedication with 2 mg lorazepam, anesthesia was performed with total doses of 50 mg midazolam, 175 µg sufentanil and 80 mg atracurium. The usual intraoperative monitoring was completed by monitoring of pressures with pulmonary and radial arterial catheters. The operation lasted five hours and required clamping of the inferior vena cava and the aorta for about 15 min. Intraoperative vascular fluid included 4.5 L crystalloids, 1.5 L modified fluid gelatin, 1.5 L hydroxyethylstarch and five units red blood cells. The operation consisted of tumour excision with ligation of the right renal vein. The upper pole of the tumour was tied with transtumoral clamping of the inferior vena cava. Pericardiotomy revealed a small intrapericardial effusion. As the procedure could not be completed without risk using the established operating conditions, surgery was stopped to consider possible complementary excision with cardiopulmonary bypass and the patient was transferred to the ICU.
In the ICU, arterial pressure was 120/90 mmHg and heart rate 120 bpm. Auscultation mimicked a right gallop rhythm. Mean arterial pulmonary pressure (MPAP) was 15 mmHg, pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) 4 mmHg, and the right atrial pressure (RAP) curve showed an atypical feature, "canon a wave" (Figure 1
), with pressures of 20/6-11 mmHg. Variations in the systemic arterial pressure curve were also noted, with a respiratory cycle suggestive of hypovolemia. One litre of modified fluid gelatin was then perfused. However, arterial hypotension occurred at 75 mmHg systolic arterial pressure (SAP), MPAP was 10 mmHg, PAOP 8 mmHg, and RAP 10 mmHg. Dopamine was infused at 5 and then 8 µg•kg–1•min–1. The canon a waves were always present. Transthoracic echocardiography showed right atrial stasis with no visible obstacle to vascular filling, tricuspid insufficiency or intrapericardial effusion. The right ventricle appeared to be empty. The remaining tumour was visible at the point where the inferior vena cava reached right atrium. Despite complementary filling (0.5L hydroxyethylstarch and 0.5 L gelofusine), the hemodynamic state rapidly worsened (SAP = 55 mmHg). Transesophageal echocardiography showed an echogenic mass at the level of the right atrium which blocked the tricuspid valve and prevented any filling of the right ventricle (Figure 2). Reoperation with cardiopulmonary bypass was decided but the family preferred not to resume the operation. The patient died shortly afterwards.
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).4 This feature corresponds to extreme intra-atrial pressure during atrial systole induced by an obstruction. It can be caused by rhythm disturbances due to atrioventricular dissociation or a junctional rhythm producing atrial systole when the tricuspid valve is closed. In our case, this possibility was excluded since sinus rhythm was present and the ECG tracing was normal. Acute tamponade is another possibility, given the high RAP and the likelihood of bleeding secondary to intraoperative heparinization and opening of the pericardium. However, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic examinations showed no pericardial effusion. The most likely cause was that mobilization of the migrant tumour at the level of the right atrium prevented filling of the right ventricle. Initially, upon return from the operating room, the patient's hemodynamic state was altered by the relative hypovolemia related to a reduction in venous return. Hypovolemia was revealed by tachycardia and arterial pressure variations with mechanical ventilation. A right atrial curve with a tall « a » wave was already present and persisted throughout the postoperative period. It is surprising that a mass of the size revealed in the transesophageal echocardiography was not seen with transthoracic echocardiography as both examinations were performed by the same cardiologist and anesthesiologist experienced in echocardiography. Two possibilities were hypothesized: First, transthoracic echocardiography is more limited than transesophageal echocardiography. False negative results with transthoracic echocardiography are commonly reported in contrast to transesophageal examination which always visualizes the auricular or paracardiac tumours.5–8 Second, the tumour was always close to the wall of the vena cava, was mobilized intermittently, and was not visualized at the time of transthoracic echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography clearly showed the tricuspid obstruction due to the tumour mass. Recent reports of tricuspid inflow obstruction and pulmonary embolism underline the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis during the per and postoperative periods.9,10
Histopathological examination of the surgical specimen confirmed the preoperative diagnosis of a leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava.1–3 This primary malignant tumour develops from smooth muscle cells of the inferior vena cava. Fewer than 200 such tumours have been reported.3 The difficulty for surgical management depends on the topography of the tumour.1–3 Excision of a tumour located below the orifice of the renal veins is generally easy, whereas removal of a suprarenal tumour is often difficult, especially when it has spread to the liver. Tumours involving the cavo-renal confluence and the suprahepatic inferior vena cava can be operated upon by the abdominal route when they are not too large, which requires complete clamping of the suprarenal inferior vena cava. Exclusion of the liver by triple clamping is generally necessary and justifies hemodynamic monitoring through pulmonary catheterization. Only when the tumour extends into the right atrium, is cardiopulmonary bypass necessary.
In the absence of hepatic and renal involvement, an abdominal approach was chosen in our case. Furthermore, we wanted to certify that tumour resection was possible because cases have been reported in which it has proved technically impossible when tumours spread beyond the suprahepatic veins.11 Unfortunately, the degree of tumour spread led to incomplete surgery and ligation of the inferior vena cava, with venous return ensured by the collateral circulation, as clearly visualized in the preoperative study.
Preoperative transesophageal echocardiography has never been recommended in the preoperative evaluation for resection of a leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava. In view of this case with unexpected higher spread of the tumour not identified despite venocavography and transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography may be considered when the tumour extends to the origin of right atrium. Both pre and peroperative transesophageal echocardiography examinations may assist surgical decisions and patient's anesthetic and critical care management. Similar patients might be operated upon in a cardiac surgery operating room, under continuous transesophageal echocardiography examination, with stand-by cardiopulmonary bypass. However, this management does not preclude successful operation as far as tumour extension may render restitution of prostethic vena cava wall difficult.1 Finally, the very poor oncologic prognosis of this neoplasm, in contrast to the relatively good one of renal carcinoma, must be taken in consideration when surgical indication is debated.
Accepted for publication December 3, 2000.
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2 Mingoli A, Feldhaus RJ, Cavallaro A, Stipa S. Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava: analysis and search of world literature on 141 patients and report of three new cases. J Vasc Surg 1991; 14: 688–99.[Medline]
3 Dzsinich C, Gloviczki P, van Heerden JA, et al. Primary venous leiomyosarcoma: a rare but lethal disease. J Vasc Surg 1992; 15: 595–603.[Medline]
4 Mark JB. Central venous pressure monitoring: clinical insights beyond the numbers. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 1991; 5: 163–73.[Medline]
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Mügge A, Daniel WG, Haverich A, Lichtlen PR. Diagnosis of noninfective cardiac mass lesions by two- dimensional echocardiography. Comparison of the transthoracic and transoesophageal approaches. Circulation 1991; 83: 70–8.
6 Lestuzzi C, Nicolosi GL, Mimo R, Pavan D, Zanuttini D. Usefulness of transoesophageal echocardiography in evaluation of paracardiac neoplasic masses. Am J Cardiol 1992; 70: 247–51.[Medline]
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Engberding R, Daniel WG, Erbel R, et al. Diagnosis of heart tumours by transoesophageal echocardiography: a multicentre study in 154 patients. Eur Heart J 1993; 14: 1223–8.
8 Maillet-Vioud C, Bertrand B, Tribouilloy C, et al. Diagnostic value of transoesophageal echocardiography in cardiac and paracardiac tumours: a multicentre study. (French) Arch Mal Coeur 1995; 88: 1307–13.
9 Sasaoka N, Kawaguchi M, Sha K, et al. Intraoperative immediate diagnosis of acute obstruction of tricuspid valve and pulmonary embolism due to renal cell carcinoma with transesophageal echocardiography. Anesthesiology 1997; 87: 998–1001.[Medline]
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Tsai S-K, Wang M-J, Ko W-J, Wang S-J. Emergent bedside transesophageal echocardiography in the resuscitation of sudden cardiac arrest after tricuspid inflow obstruction and pulmonary embolism. Anesth Analg 1999; 89: 1406–8.
11 Mingoli A, Cavallaro A, di Marzo L, Morelli MM, Feldhaus RJ. Inferior vena cava replacement for primary tumor: is the use of venovenous bypass necessary? (Letter) Surgery 1994; 115: 409.
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