Urologia Internationalis · 2010 · 11 citations · 0 references
MedicineOncologySurgeryCardiothoracic SurgerySurgical OncologyUltrasonographyCardiac CatheterizationEchocardiographic Hemodynamic AssessmentKidney CancerPulmonary Artery CatheterizationRenal Cell CarcinomaTransesophageal EchocardiographyIntracardiac EchocardiographyIntracardiac Thrombus DetectionIntraoperative Transesophageal EchocardiographyPulmonary Artery Catheter MonitoringPulmonary Artery Catheter PositioningRenal Cell Carcinoma ImagingTransesophageal Echocardiography GuidanceTwo-dimensional Echocardiography
Renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena caval tumor thrombus extending to the level of the right atrium occurs in about 1% of all cases. Dynamic two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography is a minimally invasive safe technique that can demonstrate preoperatively the cephalad extent of the cavoatrial tumor thrombus with an accuracy that appears equal to or better than that of any other method currently available. When used intraoperatively, it provides invaluable data to aid in the anesthetic and surgical management of the patient, obviating the need for and potential risk of placing a Swan-Ganz pulmonary artery catheter before complete removal of the tumor thrombus.