Venous bypass for surgical resection of renal carcinoma invading the vena cava: a new approach.

A new technique is described which facilitates the surgical removal of renal carcinoma from the inferior vena cava. The use of cardiopulmonary bypass with or without cardiac arrest has been advocated but with this procedure only the inferior vena cava is bypassed, using femoral and right atrial cannulation, assisted by a closed system electromagnetic centrifugal pump. In appropriate cases this less complex technique allows prolonged access to the inferior vena cava whilst providing equal protection from pulmonary embolisation and tumour dissemination; it also reduces morbidity, operating time, difficulty and cost when compared with cardiopulmonary bypass.