A Case Report of Preoperative Placement of Vena Cava Filter for The Ascending Colon Cancer Complicated by Internal Iliac Vein Thrombosis

Tadataka Hayashi, Toshio Nakamura, Keiji Maruyama, Hiroshi Mitsuoka, Atsuko Fukazawa, Akihiro Uno, Yukihiro Higashi, Hiroyuki Konno and Satoshi Nakamura

Second Department of Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine

A 53-year-old woman was admitted complaining of right lower abdominal pain. Colonoscopy and a computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed a tumor of the ascending colon. Enhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed a thrombus in the right internal iliac vein. We considered that a prophylactic strategy was necessary for the prevention of a pulmonary embolism before the resection of the advanced ascending colon cancer. Under preoperative placement of the inferior vena cava (IVC) filter, a right hemicolectomy was performed. Intra- and post-operative courses were uneventful. There was no recurrence of the tumor and further development of the venous thrombi 10 months after the operation. Internal iliac vein thrombosis is a rare disease, but it causes a pulmonary embolism. In patients who have an iliac vein thrombosis before major abdominal surgery, it may be useful to insert the IVC filter preoperatively for prevention of a pulmonary embolism.

Key words
internal iliac vein thrombus, IVC filter, Colon cancer

Reprint requests
Tadataka Hayashi Second Department of Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine
1-20-1 Handayama, Hamamatsu-city, 431-3192 JAPAN

Accepted
July 23, 2003

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