An Unique Variation of Right Renal Artery: A Case Report

Abstract

With the advent of laparoscopic renal surgeries and donor nephrectomies, it becomes mandatory for the surgeons to understand the abnormality or variations in the renal vasculature. During routine dissection of the abdominal region for undergraduate medical teaching we observed an unusual variation in the vascular supply of the kidney on the right side of an elderly female cadaver. Main renal artery was arising from abdominal aorta at the level of lower border of L1 and immediately gave off a branch namely right inferior phrenic artery. Approximately 3-4 cm beyond giving this branch main renal artery gave another branch to superior pole of right kidney. The inferior pole of the right kidney was being supplied by another branch which was directly arising from aorta just distal to the first renal artery. No variations were observed in the branching pattern of the left renal artery. This case report discusses the variation of right renal artery observed, which has never been documented. Possible embryological explanation of the variation observed and its clinical implications have been discussed in this article.