Absence of Inferior Vena Cava in a Renal Transplant Recipient: A Case Report

A 27-year-old woman was admitted to our department with end-stage renal failure due to reflux nephropathy. She had no history of deep venous thrombosis. After pretransplantation evaluation, her father was accepted for kidney donation. We observed intraoperatively that the patient's iliac veins and inferior vena cava (IVC) were absent. There were many venous collaterals, but none of them was dilated enough for renal vein anastomosis. Since we could not find a suitable vein for venous drainage of the allograft, we decided to stop donor surgery and postpone renal transplantation (RT) for detailed radiologic examination. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed the absence of an infrahepatic segment of IVC. Superior mesenteric vein was thin. Portal and splenic veins were normal, but we decided not to use them for venous drainage because of increased risk of torsion. We informed the patient and her family about the situation and cancelled RT. Iliac vein and IVC anomalies are not absolute contraindications for RT, but when a dilated collateral vein is not present or when there is no option for safe renal vein anastomosis as in our case, RT may not be possible.