Left Hand-assisted Laparoscopic Nephrectomy With Renal Vein Thrombectomy for Stage T3b Renal Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

A 60-year-old male was found to have an 8.0 cm left renal mass and associated renal vein thrombus on computed tomography. The thrombus extended 3 mm beyond the right aortic border to within 1.6 cm of the left border of the inferior vena cava. The patient underwent left nephrectomy with renal vein thrombectomy using a hand-assisted laparoscopic approach. The tumor thrombus was “milked” proximally back into left renal vein, which was then divided with an endovascular stapler. Left renal vein thrombi extending to right margin of the aorta can be managed with hand-assisted laparoscopic approach.