Method of using a dedicated internal shunt and stent for the inferior

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of diverting blood from the adult retro hepatic Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) and the shunting of renal and infra renal IVC blood to the right atrium when desired during surgery on the liver, its vessels, or the retro hepatic IVC. The device has a distal component of critical length for the adult supra renal IVC. It is symmetrical on its mid horizontal axis permitting similar utility whether venous access was above or below the liver. It is a hollow plastic tube with two openings, one at each end of the tube, which has four intervening completely encircling balloons and is continuous with a proximal component which serves to manipulate the distal component within the venous system and to remotely inflate the balloons. Once introduced via right atriotomy or venotomy the distal component would be advanced and seated in the right atrium and supra renal IVC at which time inflation of the balloon immediately below the shunt opening in the right atrium would provide for easy digital sensation within the pericardium and identification of the exact site below this balloon for occlusion by ligature the intra pericardial IVC around the shunt. This would prevent reflux of blood from the heart into the retro hepatic IVC and fix the position of the balloon immediately above the lower opening above the renal veins which when inflated would occlude the supra renal IVC and instantly cause bypass of the retro hepatic IVC and shunt renal and infra renal IVC blood to the heart.