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Image Acquisition Method for the Sonographic Assessment of the Inferior Vena Cava
Published on: January 13, 2023
Inferior vena cava in urology: importance of developmental abnormalities in clinical practice
Aneesh Srivastava1, Kamal Jeet Singh, Amit Suri
1Department of Urology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India. anees@sgpgi.ac.in
Insights
Anomalies of the inferior vena cava (IVC) are common congenital variations. Preoperative diagnosis using 3D CT scans helps urologists reduce complications during abdominal procedures.
Area of Science:
- Vascular anatomy
- Embryology
- Urology
Background:
- Inferior vena cava (IVC) anomalies have been documented since 1793.
- The IVC develops from complex embryogenesis involving paired cardinal veins.
- At least 14 anomalies exist, with four common types encountered clinically.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review developmental anomalies of the IVC.
- To highlight their implications in clinical urological practice.
- To emphasize the importance of preoperative diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of embryological development of the IVC.
- Analysis of clinical experience with approximately 400 kidney donors.
- Preoperative evaluation using spiral CT with 3D reconstruction.
Main Results:
- Preoperative diagnosis of IVC anomalies using 3D CT aids in surgical planning.
- It facilitates decisions regarding surgical approach (laparoscopic vs. open).
- Experience with kidney donors confirmed the utility of this diagnostic approach.
Conclusions:
- Developmental anomalies of the IVC are significant for urologists.
- Preoperative identification of these variations is crucial for minimizing surgical complications.
- 3D CT reconstruction is a valuable tool for diagnosing IVC anomalies.
Abstract:
Anomalies of the inferior vena cava (IVC) have been known since 1793, when Abernethy first described a congenital, mesocaval shunt and azygous continuation of the IVC in a 10-month-old infant with polysplenia and dextrocardia. The IVC is formed by a complex process of embryogenesis during the sixth to tenth week of gestation. It forms from continuous appearance and regression of the three paired veins: posterior cardinal, subcardinal, and supracardinal. Improper completion of the developmental process may result in at least 14 anatomic anomalies, out of which the following four are usually encountered in clinical practice: duplication of the IVC, transposition or left-sided IVC, retroaortic left renal vein, and circumaortic left renal vein. It is suggested that the preoperative diagnosis of the vascular anomalies reduces the complication rate of abdominal vascular procedures. Our vast experience with approximately 400 kidney donors who were evaluated preoperatively with spiral CT scan with three-dimensional reconstruction (3D) reconfirmed this view. Thereafter, it became easier to choose the side and decide between laparoscopic vs. open approach. This prompted us to write the present article focusing on those developmental anomalies of the IVC that may be encountered by the urologist and their implication on the clinical practice.
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