Objective To establish a model of transplanting neonatal cardiomycytes into the wall of rat inferior vena cava. Methods Neonatal cardiomyocytes (n=6, 5×106cells each, A group) or medium (n=6, B group) only were transplanted into the wall of inferior vena cava in female Fisher rats. At 21 days after transplantation, the contraction of transplanted cardiomyocytes was assessed and the inferior vena cava was processed for histology. Results Distinct rhythmic beating of the vena cava at the site of cell transplantation before and after the aorties were clamped (at a rate 141± 47 rpm and 88± 44 rpm which was dramaticly lower than aortic beating, with a statistical difference at P value of 0.03). Cardiomyocyte was seen in 6 rats who had neonatal cardiomyocyte transplantation, but not in 6 rats receiving media. Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed viable cardiomyocytes in the wall of the vena cava in 6 rats treated with neonatal cardiomyocytes, but not in 6 rats receiving media. Conclusion This study shows that neonatal cardiomyocytes can survive, mature and spontaneously and rhythmically contract after they are transplanted in the wall of inferior vena cava.
ObjectiveTo summarize short-term and long-term effects of ex vivo liver resection followed by autotransplantation (Abbreviation: autotransplantation) in treatment of advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE).MethodThe clinical data and follow-up data of 17 patients with advanced HAE who underwent autotransplantation from November 2016 to July 2019 in the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture People’s Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsThe autotransplantations were performed successfully in the 17 patients with advanced HAE. Ten patients underwent the inferior vena cava (IVC) reconstruction with autologous saphenous veins, 5 patients underwent the artificial revascularization, 1 patient underwent the direct anastomosis of the original IVC, and 1 patient didn’t reconstructed (the retroperitoneal collateral circulation was abundant). The mean liver graft mass was 681.3 g (365–1 350 g) and operation time was 11.5 h (9–16 h). The median anhepatic period was 312 min (175–450 min), blood loss was 2 000 mL(950–4 500 mL), red blood cell suspension transfusion was 6.4 U (1–20 U), and fresh frozen plasma was 1.1 L (0.8–2.0 L). The postoperative hospital stay was 5 to 45 d with an average of 25.6 d. There were 4 patients with the postoperative hepatic enveloping effusion, 1 patient with bile leakage, and 1 patient with bile duct stenosis. All of them were treated and cured, and no death occurred. The follow-up time of 17 patients was 3 to 35 months with an average of 9.5 months, no recurrence of HAE and distant metastasis were observed.ConclusionsIn highlands, autotransplantation in treatment of advanced HAE patients with different IVC reconstruction is satisfactory, but it has a higher risk and is difficult. Choice of intraoperative reconstruction materials, judgment of posterior peritoneal collateral circulation, presence or absence of tension in end-to-end anastomosis of the IVC require precise consideration. At the same time, anticoagulation therapy and complications management are difficult, and it is only suitable for plateau medical center with rich experience.
ObjectiveTo summarize the effect of artificial blood vessel replacement in the treatment of complex hepatic alveolar hydatid disease involving retrohepatic inferior vena cava.MethodClinical data of 5 patients with hepatic alveolar hydatid disease involving retrohepatic inferior vena cava, who underwent vena cava replacement operation from June 2018 to August 2019 in our hospital were collected to analyzed.ResultsThe operation was successfully completed in all the 5 patients, and the hepatic hydatid space-occupying lesions were completely removed. Among them, 2 cases underwent extended right hemihepatectomy and caudate lobectomy, the operative time was 7 h and 8 h, the intraoperative blood loss was 600 mL and 400 mL, respectively, and the hospital stay were both 14 d. Three cases underwent autotransplantation surgery, with the operative time of 16 h, 12 h, and 12 h, the intraoperative blood loss was 1 500 mL, 1 500 mL, and 1 000 mL, and the hospital stay were 24, 20, and 19 d, respectively. There was no massive hemorrhage occurred, and 1 case suffered from liver failure (compensatory period), 2 cases suffered form bile leakage, all of which were cured by liver protection, anti infection, and drainage. During the follow-up period, the 5 cases were all in good condition, no relapse or recurrence occurred, and the quality of life was good.ConclusionThe replacement of the infected inferior vena cava by artificial blood vessel is an effective and feasible method for the treatment of hepatic alveolar hydatid disease involving retrohepatic inferior vena cava.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical application of variant associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) combined with inferior vena cava reconstruction for end stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE).MethodThe clinical data of one case with HAE who treated in Organ Transplantation Center of Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital in November 2017 was analyzed retrospectively.ResultsComputed tomography revealed that the three hepatic veins and retrohepatic inferior vena cava were invaded by multiple and giant hydatid lesions. Only the segment 6 retained the complete portal vein and hepatic vein return branch. Remnant liver volume/standard liver volume (RLV/SLV) of this patient was 24.9%. Surgical exploration was performed after preoperative examination. In the first stage, ligation of the left portal vein and the right anterior lobe portal vein were performed to increase portal blood supply at S6 while partial split of the liver. The patient recovered well after operation without complications such as bile leakage and infection. Six months after the first stage surgery, the second stage surgery was performed, and RLV/SLV measured before surgery was 48.3%. S1–5/S7–8 were completely removed and the hepatic inferior vena cava was reconstructed with artificial blood vessels. The patient was discharged on 10 days after operation, and there was no complications and relapses occurred during the 18 months follow-up period.ConclusionsVariant ALPPS combined with inferior vena cava reconstruction is an effective attempt to treat end stage HAE with multiple and giant hydatid lesions and insufficient RLV.
We reported a case of a six-year-old boy diagnosed of single ventricle, pulmonary atresia and interrupted inferior vena cava. After modified Blalock-Taussig shunt and bidirectional Glenn procedure, he received the Fontan procedure. The Fontan procedure was done through a unilateral thoracotomy, using an autologous pericardial conduit to connect hepatic vein and azygos vein. The result of short-term follow-up was satisfactory.
ObjectiveTo discuss the implantation and conversion technology of convertible inferior vena cava filter and the experience of management.MethodsThe clinical data of 115 patients with convertible inferior vena cava filter implantation admitted to our vascular surgery center from January 2018 to December 2018 was retrospectively analyzed.ResultsAmong the 115 patients with convertible inferior vena cava filter implantation, 74 were males and 41 were females. The ages ranged from 22 to 87 years, with median age 54 years. The successful rate of filter implantation was 100% without any surgical related complications. After implantation surgery, patients were followed up from 4 to 455 days with a median of 90 days and the recurrence rate of adverse events was 7.8% (9/115). The recurrence time were 16 to 104 days after conversion, with a median of 42 days. Twenty-three patients (20.0%) received filter conversion, one of them failed and all the others succeeded. The technical successful rate was 95.7% (22/23). The conversion operative time was 22.8 to 51.4 min, with median time 27.4 min. The intervals between implantation and conversion were from 4 to 455 days, with median time 159 days. Accessory techniques were used in 20 of 22 successful filter conversions and the application rate of accessory technique was 90.9%. The patients were followed-up from 30 to 180 days after conversion with a median time of 90 days and no adverse event was reported.ConclusionConvertible inferior vena cava filter is a significant choice for patients application of inferior vena cava filter due to its high safety of conversion surgery, technical success rate and possibility of conversion after long-term indwelling.
Objective To investigate the application and clinical efficacy of orthotopic autologous renal transplantation combined with inferior vena cava (IVC) resection and reconstruction in retroperitoneal tumor. Methods The clinical data of a patient with complex retroperitoneal tumor was analyzed retrospectively. Abdominal CT examination showed that the tumor originated from IVC and invaded the retrohepatic IVC and bilateral renal vein trunks. Intraoperative ultrasound exploration revealed mechanized thrombosis in the IVC and bilateral renal vein trunks. After blocking the left renal vein, no significant hemodynamic changes were seen before and after intraoperative ultrasound exploration and contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Results After complete removal of the left renal vein and suture of the severed end, the right renal vein was successfully reconstructed with an orthotopic autologous right kidney graft combined with IVC resection after removal of the mechanized thrombus. The patient recovered well after surgery, and a repeat CT showed that the reconstructed artificial IVC was patent, and the color Doppler ultrasonography of both kidneys showed good perfusion and no obstruction of return. The patient was given oral rivaroxaban anticoagulant therapy after operation, and discharged at 19 days after operation. The postoperative pathological findings suggested inferior vena cava smooth muscle sarcoma. Conclusion Orthotopic autologous renal transplantation combined with IVC resection and reconstruction for complex retroperitoneal tumor is safe and feasible, and the left renal vein can be ligated and dissected intraoperatively, but a comprehensive evaluation with intraoperative ultrasound (imaging) is required.
ObjectiveTo explore the clinical application of in vivo hepatectomy with preservation of retrohepatic inferior vena cava (IVC) for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) with the invasion of IVC. MethodsThe clinicopathologic data of a complicated HAE patient with large lesion (maximum cross-section 12.6 cm×9.6 cm), infiltrative growth, unclear boundary with surrounding tissues, and invasions of diaphragm and IVC (invasion length up to 4.6 cm) admitted to the Department of Liver Surgery in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University in December 2021 was retrospectively collected. The three-dimensional reconstruction of the liver model was performed by Mimics Medical 21.0 software before operation. The invading IVC of the right liver lesion was measured and the resection was simulated. During the operation, the HAE lesion and the affected IVC were gradually separated from IVC by the hemostatic forceps, and the residual lesions were gradually removed. ResultsIn this patient, the HAE lesion of right liver was resected, the IVC was entirely preserved, and the resection of liver was consistent with the preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction plan. The operation time was 275 min, the bleeding was approximately 500 mL. On the first day after the operation, the alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were increased, no obvious abnormalities were observed in the plasma albumin and bilirubin, the patient recovered and was discharged on the seventh day after the operation. No complications occurred after the operation, and no recurrence or metastasis of HAE was observed during follow-up period. ConclusionsHepatectomy with preservation of retrohepatic IVC for HAE with invasion of IVC is safe and effective. Taking albendazole regularly after surgery will help maintain disease-free survival.
Objective To identify and analyze all medical injury liability disputes lawsuits pertaining to inferior vena cava filters (IVCF) in “Lexis®China” database, the causes and outcomes of litigation of the cases were clarified with a view, and to provide suggestions for preventing potential medical patient dispute lawsuits and improving the clinical diagnosis and treatment level of doctors. Method The term “inferior vena cava filter” was searched in Lexis®China, and spanning from 2011-01-01 to 2022-12-31. Results A total of 221 cases of medical injury liability disputes were found, after screening and exclusion, a total of 179 relevant cases were included in this study for analysis. All first instance lawsuits were brought by patients against hospitals and had a high rate of compensation awarded (91.6%). Forty four cases were entered second instance litigation, and the proportion of maintaining the original judgment was high (68.2%). The main content involving the modification of the judgment was to increase the compensation amount (85.7%). In the 14 lawsuits related to the failure to place IVCF by the medical authority, the litigation points were all disputes arising from the hospital’s improper diagnosis and treatment of VTE patients, which led to the failure to place IVCF, with the highest proportion (92.3%) of improper diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE). For PE and deep vein thrombosis patients with clear indications for IVCF implantation but not placed, leading to litigation, the hospital bore different liability for compensation (18%–100%) depending on the fault factors of the hospital’s negligence in diagnosis and treatment. The hospital could also be held responsible for inadequate informed disclosure to affect patient judgment (23.1%). In 165 lawsuits related to the placement of IVCF, the vast majority of IVCF implants were for the diagnosis and treatment of VTE in patients (73.9%). However, such unplanned operations caused additional injuries and expenses to patients, and VTE occurred most frequently during hospitalization (76.2%). This type of embolism was most commonly secondary to fracture incision and fixation surgery (31.2%), and the average liability of hospitals for compensation varied due to different secondary factors. The occurrence of intraoperative and postoperative complications related to IVCF implantation could also lead to litigation (18.8%), and the proportion of dead patients in litigation was relatively high (32.3%). The most common complication leading to litigation was PE recurrence or exacerbation (22.5%), while intraoperative complications were vascular injury during interventional procedures (2/3). The overall trend of IVCF-related lawsuits reserves between 2011 and 2020 showed an overall upward trend, reaching a peak of 37 cases in 2020; the average amount of damages exceeded 100 000 yuan per case in 10 of the 12 years included in the statistics. Conclusions In China’s IVCF-related medical liability lawsuits, patients most often sue their doctors, who are often sued for failure to insert a filter due to untimely diagnosis and treatment of VTE, inadequate notification of informed consent for IVCF insertion, unplanned IVCF insertion due to the presence of VTE and IVCF-related complications, and the outcome is often unfavourable to the doctors. In addition, the number of IVCF related lawsuits and hospital compensation amounts have remained high in recent years.