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Image Acquisition Method for the Sonographic Assessment of the Inferior Vena Cava
06:59

Image Acquisition Method for the Sonographic Assessment of the Inferior Vena Cava

Published on: January 13, 2023

Left sided inferior vena cava: a case report

Kimaporn Khamanarong1, Worawut Woraputtaporn, Supawadee Teerakul

  • 1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. kkimap@kku.ac.th

Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet Thangphaet
|August 20, 2010
PubMed

Insights

A rare case of a left-sided inferior vena cava (IVC) was found during cadaver dissection. Preoperative identification of this anatomical variation is crucial for safe laparoscopic surgery.

Area of Science:

  • Anatomy
  • Vascular Anatomy
  • Surgical Anatomy

Background:

  • The inferior vena cava (IVC) is a major vein that returns deoxygenated blood from the lower and middle body into the right atrium of the heart.
  • Anatomical variations of the IVC can occur, with a left-sided IVC being a rare anomaly.

Observation:

  • A dissection survey of 939 embalmed cadavers revealed a case of left-sided IVC in a 65-year-old male donor.
  • The left-sided IVC originated posterior to the left common iliac artery at the L5 vertebra and coursed left of the aorta.

Findings:

  • The anomalous IVC crossed anterior to the abdominal aorta to reach the right side, receiving the left renal vein at the crossing point.
  • The right renal vein drained into the right-sided IVC.

Implications:

  • Preoperative diagnosis of a left-sided IVC is essential in the current era of minimally invasive surgery.
  • Awareness of this anomaly can prevent surgical complications during laparoscopic procedures, particularly in urology.
Abstract

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