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Robotic assisted extravascular stent placement for nutcracker phenomenon of the left renal vein: a case series

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Abstract

Nutcracker phenomenon of the left renal vein is a rare anatomic anomaly that can present with chronic flank/pelvic pain, pelvic congestion, and hematuria. Conventional treatment options (superior mesenteric artery transposition, endovascular stent placement, auto-transplantation) involve substantial risk, morbidity, or the need for chronic anti-coagulation. We now report our institution’s robotic experience with extravascular left renal vein stent placement. A retrospective, single surgeon series from December 2016 to May 2019 was reviewed. After positioning and port placement (three robotic ports, one assistant), the left renal vein was exposed and dissected free circumferentially down to the inferior vena cava insertion. The distance between the renal vein ostium and adrenal vein was measured and a 1 cm-diameter ringed polytetrafluoroethylene vascular stent of this length placed. The stent edges were secured to itself with 3–0 polyglactin sutures. Demographics, surgical, and functional outcomes were collected. Six patients with mean age of 45 ± 6 years and body mass index of 20.3 ± 3.3 g underwent the procedure. Mean operative time was 143 ± 20 min. Estimated blood loss was minimal. Mean graft length utilized was 2.25 ± 0.3 cm. Median day of discharge was 1.5 days (range 1–3). No high-grade complications occurred. All patients received immediate pain relief and 50% also saw other symptomatic improvements. Robotic assisted extravascular left renal vein stent placement appears safe and effective in a small cohort with short follow-up. Further long-term follow-up for pain relief and graft-related complications are needed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA

    Ryan L. Steinberg, Brett A. Johnson, Alaina Garbens & Jeffrey A. Cadeddu

  2. UT Southwestern Department of Urology, 2001 Inwood Dr. Urology 4th Floor, MC 9164, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA

    Jeffrey A. Cadeddu

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  1. Ryan L. Steinberg
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  2. Brett A. Johnson
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  3. Alaina Garbens
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  4. Jeffrey A. Cadeddu
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Correspondence to Jeffrey A. Cadeddu.

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R. Steinberg, B. Johnson, and A. Garbens declare they have no conflict of interest; J. Cadeddu discloses an advisory board position and investment in Levita Magnetics.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.”

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Informed consent was not obtained from individual participants included in this study given the retrospective nature of the study.

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Steinberg, R.L., Johnson, B.A., Garbens, A. et al. Robotic assisted extravascular stent placement for nutcracker phenomenon of the left renal vein: a case series. J Robotic Surg 14, 781–788 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-020-01054-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-020-01054-x

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