Bilateral variations in renal vasculature

Abstract

Routine dissection of a 67-year-old male cadaver, revealed a complex anatomical variation of the renal vasculature. Right kidney was multilobulated measuring 11 x 5 x 3 cm, with the hilum containing three renal arteries and two renal veins. The upper renal artery arose from aorta just below origin of superior mesenteric artery, middle renal artery arose from 1 cm below the upper artery and the lower renal artery arose just below the origin of inferior mesenteric artery, respectively. Two veins drained the right kidney into inferior vena cava. Left kidney measured 10 x 6.5 x 4 cm. The hilum contained two renal arteries. The upper renal artery arose from the aorta just below the origin of superior mesenteric artery, the lower renal artery arose from aorta just below the origin of inferior mesenteric artery. There was a single vein draining the left kidney. Knowledge of the variations of renal vascular anatomy has importance in exploration and treatment of renal trauma, renal transplantation, renal artery embolization, surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm and conservative or radical renal surgery. © IJAV. 2010; 3: 53–55.