Retro-aortic, left inferior renal capsular vein

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Anatomy
• Surgical Planning

Background:

• Living kidney donation requires precise anatomical evaluation.
• Preoperative identification of vascular anomalies is critical for surgical success.
• Laparoscopic nephrectomy is a common procedure for kidney retrieval.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of an inferior renal capsular vein variant.
• To highlight the importance of detailed preoperative imaging in living kidney donors.
• To demonstrate the impact of anatomical variants on surgical planning for laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Main Methods:

• Abdominal multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) was performed for preoperative evaluation.
• MDCT included early and vascular phases to assess renal anatomy and vasculature.
• The imaging data was used to plan the surgical approach for nephrectomy.

Main Results:

• MDCT revealed normal renal parenchyma in the early phase.
• The vascular phase identified an anomalous inferior renal capsular vein on the left.
• This vein exhibited a looped and retro-aortic course.

Conclusions:

• Anatomical variations, such as the retro-aortic inferior renal capsular vein, can occur in living kidney donors.
• Preoperative identification of such variants using MDCT is essential for safe and efficient laparoscopic nephrectomy.
• Detailed radiological assessment improves surgical outcomes and donor safety.