A rare combined variation of the coeliac trunk, renal and testicular vasculature / 대한해부학회지

The authors report a rare variation of the coeliac trunk, renal and testicular vasculature in a 27-year-old male cadaver. In the present case, the coeliac trunk and superior mesenteric artery was replaced by a modified coeliacomesenteric trunk formed by hepato-gastric and superior mesenteric arteries. Here the hepato-gastric artery or trunk contributed towards the total hepatic inflow as well as a gastro-duodenal artery. A separate right gastric artery and an additional superior pancreatico-duodenal artery was also found in addition with a retro-aortic left renal vein and a bilateral double renal arterial supply. The aforementioned coeliac trunk variation, to our knowledge, has never been reported before and this variation combined with the renal vasculature requires careful surgical consideration.

Anatomical variations of the azygos venous system: classification and clinical relevance / Variaciones anatómicas del sistema venoso ácigos: clasificación y relevancia clínica

The azygos venous system is highly variable in terms of its origin, course, communications, tributaries and termination of the associated veins: this study aimed to classify these anatomical variations. Thirty Thiel-embalmed cadavers aged 48­98 years (18 female, 12 male) were examined. The vertebral level of termination and diameter of the azygos, hemiazygos, accessory hemiazygos and the left superior intercostal veins were determined, as well as the termination level of the right superior intercostal vein. The azygos system was classified into 3 types; primitive (type 1), transitional (type 2) and unicolumnar (type 3). Type 2 was further divided into 5 subgroups (A to E) according to the number of retroaortic communications. Type one was observed in 3 % (n=1), type 2 in 87 % (n=26) and type 3 in 10 % (n=3) of specimens. The vertebral level of termination of the azygos, hemiazygos, accessory hemiazygos, right superior intercostal and left superior intercostal veins were between T2 and T3, T6 and T10, T5 and T9, T2 and T4, and T2 and T4 respectively. Identification and understanding these variations are important during preoperative radiological investigations and surgical procedures, especially spinal surgery between T7 and T12 using a left thoracotomy approach, to avoid injuries which may lead to postoperative hematomas.

El sistema venoso ácigos es muy variable en función de su origen, comunicaciones, afluentes y terminación de venas asociadas. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo clasificar las variaciones anatómicas relacionadas con el sistema venoso ácigos. Se examinaron treinta cadáveres embalsamados con la técnica de Thiel, con edades comprendidas entre 48-98 años (18 mujeres, 12 hombres). Se determinó el nivel vertebral de terminación y el diámetro de las venas ácigos, hemiácigos, hemiácigos accesoria e intercostales superiores izquierdas, así como el nivel de terminación del lado derecho de la vena intercostal superior. El sistema ácigos se clasificó en 3 tipos; primitivo (tipo 1), de transición (tipo 2) y unicolumnar (tipo 3). El tipo 2 se dividió en 5 subgrupos (A a E) de acuerdo con el número de comunicaciones retroaórticas. El tipo 1 se observó en 3 % (n = 1), el tipo 2 en 87 % (n = 26) y tipo 3 en 10 % (n = 3) de las muestras. El nivel vertebral de terminación de las venas ácigos, hemiácigos, hemiácigos accesoria, intercostal derecho superior e intercostales superiores izquierda se presentaron entre T2 y T3, T6 y T10, T5 y T9, T2 y T4 y T2 y T4, respectivamente. La identificación y comprensión de estas variaciones anatómicas son importantes durante las investigaciones radiológicas preoperatorias y de los procedimientos quirúrgicos, especialmente en cirugía de columna vertebral, entre los niveles T7 y T12, utilizando un abordaje de toracotomía izquierda, para evitar lesiones que pueden conducir a hematomas postoperatorios.

Clinical significance of prenatal ultrasonography in diagnosis of fetal retroaortic left innominate vein / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of prenatal ultrasonography in diagnosis of retroaortic left innominate vein ( LINV ) . Methods Thirty fetus with retroaortic LINV were involved , including 17 cases of isolated retroaortic LINV and 13 cases of complicated retroaortic LINV . Three-vessel and trachea ( 3VT ) view was focused in the routine second trimester ultrasound screening to observe whether LINV existing or not . And then the transducer was rotated to the fetal sagittal view to assess the relationship between LINV and aortic arch and the convergence of left subclavian vein and left internal jugular vein into the LINV . Results The characteristic feature of retroaortic LINV was the LINV converge into right superior vena cava ( SVC) under the aortic arch ,not above the aortic arch . The most important plane to detect the retroaortic LINV was the 3VT view ,which revealed the abnormal vein lying to the left of pulmonary artery . The abnormal vein then could be traced and revealed its connection with the right SVC beneath the aortic arch on the transverse plane inferior to the 3VT view and on the fetal sagittal plane . Conclusions The whole course of retroaortic LINV can be revealed by ultrasound prenatally ,which can not only account for the abnormal vein to the left of pulmonary artery on 3VT view ,but also play an important role in surgery decision and future cardiac intervention treatment .

The double retro-aortic left renal vein / 대한해부학회지

The renal veins drain the kidney into the inferior vena cava and unite in a variable fashion to form the renal vein. The left renal vein is normally located in front of the aorta. However, the retro-aortic renal vein may course posterior to the aorta due to embryological developmental anomalies. During educational dissection, a rare variation of the left renal vein was found in a 66-year old male cadaver. The double retro-aortic renal veins coursed behind the aorta to drain into the inferior vena cava. The superior retro-aortic renal vein drained into the inferior vena cava at the lower border of the L2 vertebra, and the inferior retro-aortic renal vein drained into the inferior vena cava at the upper border of the L4 vertebra. Such a variant is rare, and is a clinically important observation which should be noted by vascular surgeons, oncologists, and traumatologists.

Vena Renal Izquierda Recurrente Retroaórtica: Reporte de una Rara Variación / Recurrent Retroaortic Left Renal Vein: Report of an Uncommon Anomaly

Este trabajo describe el trayecto aberrante de la vena renal izquierda detectado en un cadáver de sexo masculino, utilizado con fines docentes en nuestro Departamento de Anatomía, cuya causa de muerte fue un cuadro de neumonía intrahospitalaria. En este caso, la vena renal izquierda tiene un trayecto descendente de 89 mm, dispuesta a la izquierda de la aorta abdominal, entre los niveles vertebrales L II-L V. A la altura de la V vértebra lumbar la vena recurrente se curva hacia medial, pasando por dorsal de la aorta abdominal, para abocarse a la vena ilíaca común izquierda justo en el punto donde esta forma, junto con la vena homónima de la antímera derecha, la vena cava inferior. La vena renal izquierda recurrente tiene un calibre final de 14,86 mm y recibe como afluentes a la vena adrenal, la vena gonadal y finas ramas parietales de la región lumbar izquierda. La vena renal derecha, de situación normal, tiene un diámetro de 12,10 mm y desemboca en la vena cava inferior a 101,85 mm del punto de formación de esta. En relación con las tributarias de la vena cava inferior, la vena ilíaca común derecha presenta un calibre de 18,44 mm mientras que su homóloga izquierda, que recibe como afluente a la vena renal recurrente, presenta un diámetro de 23,74 mm. La causa de esta rara anomalía, cuya incidencia es del orden del 0,16 por ciento y que aparece escasamente descrita en la literatura, radica en la persistencia del segmento posrrenal de la vena supracardinal izquierda y el cierre de las anastomosis supracardinal y subcardinal. Este hallazgo, que es especialmente atractivo para los alumnos durante la disección, representa un problema en la clínica debido a que más del 40 por ciento de estas venas de trayecto aberrante son interesadas en la cirugía de la aorta abdominal.

This paper describes the aberrant trajectory of the left renal vein. The present study describes the aberrant trajectory of the left renal vein detected in a cadaver used for teaching purposes in the Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. In this case, the left renal vein has a recurrent, retro aortic downward path, between vertebrae levels L II to L V. At level of L V, the vein curves medially, passing dorsal to the abdominal aorta and joins the left common iliac vein. The recurrent left renal vein has a final diameter of 14.86 mm and receives as tributaries to the adrenal vein, the testicular vein and fine parietal branches of the left lumbar region. The normal right renal vein has diameter of 12.10 mm and converges in the inferior vena cava at 101.85 mm above the point of union of both common iliac veins. At this point, the right common iliac vein has an 18.44 mm caliber while its left counterpart which receives the recurrent left renal vein, has a diameter of 23.74 mm. The cause of this rare anomaly which incidence is around 0.16 percent and is only scarcely described in the literature, is based in the persistence of the postrenal segment of the left supracardinal vein and closure of the supracardinal and subcardinal anastomosis. This finding, particularly attractive for students during dissection, as they represent a clinical problem since over 40 percent of these aberrant veins are of interest during surgical procedures of the abdominal aorta.

Significant Proteinuria Caused by Posterior Nutcracker Phenomenon

Posterior nutcracker phenomenon (PNP) was found to be the cause of significant proteinuria in a 10-year-old female. PNP was documented by Doppler ultrasonography and abdominal 3D CT as a cause of her proteinuria. Despite treatment with ACE inhibitor for several months, her persistent and progressive proteinuria lead us to perform a left renal biopsy, which revealed no significant finding except for focal effacement of foot processes. We speculate that nutcracker phenomenon can induce not only orthostatic proteinuria but also significant proteinuria by focal effacement of foot processes.

A Rare Variation of the Retro-Aortic Left Renal Vein with Anastomotic Afluent from Inferior Mesenteric Vein / Una Variación Rara de la Vena Renal Izquierda Retro-Aórtica con un Afluente Anastomótico de la Vena Mesentérica Inferior

We report an uncommon anatomical variations of the left renal vein was found on dissected specimen in an elderly male cadaver: a retroaortic left renal vein. No other vascular anomalies were noted in this specimen. The anomaly result may be related to a particular pattern of left inferior vena cava. The abnormality have to be known for it may be undetected or be misleading in imaging. This anatomical curiosity should be kept in mind by clinicians and academics that may manipulate this anatomical area.

Relatamos una variación anatómica infrecuente de la vena renal izquierda, denominada vena renal retroaórtica, encontrada en un cadáver masculino disecado. No se observaron otras variaciones vasculares. Lavariación anatómica encontrada se puede relacionar con un patrón particular de la vena cava inferior izquierda. La variación debe ser conocida ya que puede pasar inadvertida o ser confundida en proyecciones de imágenes de la región. Los clínicos y académicos que actúen en la región, deben considerar esta eventual variación anatómica.

Retroaortic Renal Vein / 대한비뇨기과학회지

The retroaortic renal vein is located posterior to the aorta due to congenital and developmental anomalies, which goes anterior to the aorta, normally. Even though a developmental retroaortic vein is the common congenital variation (3.3-16%), it is usually symptom free and is generally overlooked in many cases. However, after a kidney transplant, this kind of anatomical variation influences the technical feasibility of the operation, and special attention is needed. In addition, in surgery on an abdominal aneurysm, which needs mobilization of aorta, a retroaortic vein is important. This article reports a case of a retroaortic renal vein in 66 year-old female who had surgery for radical nephrectomy due to a tumor in the left kidney.