Veno-venous miniaturised extracorporeal circulation to support surgical resection of renal cell carcinoma with associated venacaval tumour thrombus

Renal cell carcinoma have a natural tendency to form tumour thrombus which can extend into the renal vein, and ultimately, into the inferior vena cava. Surgery to remove vena caval tumour thrombus extending above the hepatic veins is technically challenging with signi"cant morbidity and mortality. We have found the use of veno-venous miniaturised extracorporeal circulation to be a useful adjuvant in the removal of renal cell carcinoma, involving the inferior vena cava. We reviewed our experience.