Inferior vena cava occluder for remote access perfusion in robotic cardiac surgery

Robotic cardiac surgery requires remote access perfusion. We have developed an inferior vena cava (IVC) occluder that can safely and conveniently drain blood from the IVC. This device has been clinically applied in one patient, as described herein. The framework for this device is made from a single superelastic nitinol wire, 0.30 mm in diameter. Diameter of the spreading site of the device is decided from computed tomographic images. A polyester fabric membrane (thickness 0.10 mm) is set at the tip of this framework. The occluder is deployed through an 18-F sheath. This device was used in a 64-year-old woman with lipoma in the right atrial wall near the IVC-right atrium interface. In this patient, it might not have been possible to completely reset the tumour by conventional IVC occlusion using a snare. The occluder was smoothly and safely deployed and retracted. During placement of the occluder, blood did not flow from the IVC into the right atrium. During extracorporeal circulation, vacuum drainage was performed with no air contamination. The tumour was resected by a three-arm da Vinci Surgical System. The IVC occluder needs to completely block the IVC and avoid obstructing the inflow region of the hepatic vein. This device obviates the need to place a snare on the IVC, and thus should directly improve the safety of robotic cardiac surgery and shorten the operating time.