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Double Retroaortic Left Renal Vein
Corresponding Author: Shoaib Z Junejo, Resident, Department of Internal Medicine, Queens Hospital Center, Jamaica, New York, USA, Phone: +3474224189, e-mail: shoaibzahoor@gmail.com
This article was originally published by Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd. and was migrated to Scientific Scholar after the change of Publisher.
How to cite this article: Junejo SZ, Singh S, Tuli S. Double Retroaortic Left Renal Vein. Int J Recent Surg Med Sci 2017;3(2):117-118.
Abstract
Double left renal vein is a rare venous anomaly. Usually, it remains clinically silent until discovered accidently during an operation or imaging. We present a case of a double retroaortic left renal vein (RLRV). This variation is rare and has been very rarely reported.
Keywords
Embryonic renal venous collar
Inferior vena cava
Left subsupracardinal anastomosis
Retroaortic left renal vein
Retroaortic renal veins
INTRODUCTION
Double left renal vein is a rare venous anomaly. The incidence of RLRV has been reported from 0.5 to 3.6%.1 Usually, it remains clinically silent until discovered accidently during an operation or imaging. We present a case of a double RLRV. This variation is rare and has been very rarely reported.
CASE REPORT
A 29-year-old woman with past medical history of multiple sclerosis was brought to the emergency department with complaints of right upper quadrant (RUQ) abdominal pain. The only physical finding was abdominal tenderness in the RUQ. Results of the laboratory analysis revealed leukocytosis. Results of her blood metabolic panel and liver function tests were all normal. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) with contrast was performed for further evaluation of her abdominal pain, which showed an incidental finding of double RLRV (Fig. 1).
- Double retro-aortic left renal vein
DISCUSSION
The renal veins connect the kidney to the inferior vena cava, which are usually singular to each kidney and located anterior to the aorta. The incidence of RLRV is 1.7 to 3.4% of the population. To understand the development of this variation, the embryogenesis of the renal vein system should be considered. By 8 weeks of embryogenesis, circumaortic renal ring is formed.1 As development continues, the primitive venous drainage obliterates and normal renal vein is developed. Hoeltl et al2 classified retroaortic renal veins as two main types, according to the obliteration type of embryonic renal venous collar. Type I was developed by the persistence of the left subsupracardinal anastomosis, the intersupracardinal anastomosis, and the left dorsal renal vein. Type II is formed by the anastomosis of the left subsupracardinal and the supracardinal vein. These variations are not so uncommon and should be known by radiologist and surgeon alike as they have major clinical implications in practice and they contribute to the safety of renal and retroperitoneal surgery.3
CONCLUSION
Here, we present a rare case of double RLRV. With the help of anatomic knowledge in renovascular structures and venous variations, the iatrogenic injuries can be prevented during several invasive procedures and thus, avoid significant hemodynamic complications.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Variations in the normal anatomy of the renal vasculature can be life threatening, if not recognized prior to surgical interventions. Vascular anomalies are predisposed to form dilations and can easily be injured during surgical procedures.4 Computed tomography is frequently use for imaging kidney and retroperitoneal region. Studies shows that 1.5 to 3.2% of abdominal CT imaging detects renal vein anomalies.5 The RLRVs can be pressed between aorta and the vertebra resulting in increasing pressure in left kidney causing hematuria, referred to as “posterior nutcracker phenomenon.”6 In addition, compression of an RLRV can also result in varicocele formation and ureteropelvic junction obstruction.7 Congenital renal vascular variations can cause renal vascular congestion that clinically manifests as hematuria, left flank pain, and pelvic congestion.8,9
Source of support:
Nil
Conflict of interest:
None.
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