The Use of Bovine Pericardium for Complex Urologic Venous Reconstruction

• Published in: Urology (Ridgewood, N.J.) N.J.), 2014-02, Vol.83 (2), p.495-497
• Main Authors: Coleman, Sarah, Kerr, Hannah, Krishnamurthi, Venkatesh, Wee, Alvin, Gong, Michael, Ghoneim, Islam, Rabets, John C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Bioprosthesis; Blood Vessel Prosthesis; Cattle; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Pericardium - transplantation; Renal Veins - surgery; Urology; Vascular Surgical Procedures - methods; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0090-4295; 1527-9995
• DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2013.10.011

Objective To describe the use of bovine pericardium (BP) in several scenarios for venous patching and as a tubularized graft in urologic surgery. Methods BP was used as patch or tubularized graft in 7 patients between 2010 and 2013. Clinical scenarios and operative indications were reviewed. We used BP as a patch graft for the inferior vena cava (IVC) (N = 3) and for the iliac venous system (N = 1) to restore venous outflow. Tubularized grafts were used (N = 2) to replace the left renal vein in oncology procedures and during renal autotransplantation (N = 1). Surgical technique is reviewed in detail. Results We used BP as a venous patching in 4 cases and as a tubularized graft in 3 cases. There was no evidence of venous thrombosis of the replaced system with a mean of 14.8 months (range, 9-26) follow-up. Conclusion The use of BP as a patch or tubularized graft is an option for complicated urologic venous reconstruction. Although the follow-up interval is relatively short and this initial series small, our initial results are promising.