Anatomical variations of the renal artery: a computerized tomographic angiogram study in living kidney donors at a Nigerian Kidney Transplant Center

Abstract

Background: Understanding of the renal vascular anatomy is key to a safe and successful donor nephrectomy, which ulti- mately impacts on the renal graft function and survival in kidney transplant recipients.
 Objective: To report the various anatomical configurations of the renal artery identified in living kidney donors in a Nige- rian kidney transplant institution .
 Materials and Methods: The computerized tomography angiograms of 100 consecutive living kidney donors were pro- spectively reviewed over an 18-month period. Anatomical variations of the renal arteries including accessory arteries and early divisions were noted. Duration of surgery and ischemic time were recorded intra-operatively. Data analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS version 20.
 Results: There were variations in renal artery configuration in 50 (50%) cases, 32% were accessory renal arteries while 18% were early branches of the renal artery. The classical bilateral solitary renal arteries were found in 50 (50%) of potential do- nors. There was statistically significant longer operating and ischemic time in donors with multiple renal arteries as compared with solitary arteries (p<0.05).
 Conclusion: There are a wide variety of renal artery configurations seen in potential kidney donors. The classical solitary renal artery remains the commonest and most favourable configuration for donor nephrectomy and transplantation.
 Keywords: Renal artery; variations; living kidney donors.

Variations of Renal Vasculature in Multi Detector Computed Tomography Evaluation of Abdomen

“…Aremu A et al also found higher number of early branching (36%). 14 Howerver, study by Chhetri PK et al (30.25%) and Toro JCS et al (55%) found higher number of polar arteries as renal arterial variations. 17,18 Ten cases in our study had unilateral multiple renal arterial variations.…”

“…Similar findings were found in studies by Gumus H et al (53.7%), Armeu A et al (50%) and Famurewa OC et al (50%). 10,14,19 However, Jamkar AA et (75.01%), Cinar C et al (68.7%),Reginelli A et al (69%), Pradhav G et al (70%), Pant OB et al (67%) and Chhetri PK et al (67.76%) found higher prevalence of normal renal arterial system. 2,7,13,15,16,17 In our study, male and females had similar number of renal arterial variations.…”

Surgical Considerations for the Management of an Ectopic Main Renal Artery Originating from an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

“…In the present case, the patient had an AAA with an approximately 4% annual rupture risk [ 7 ], and although he had two normotopic, normally functioning kidneys, he had an ectopic main right renal artery originating from the aneurysm sac, which is an infrequent finding. As in most reported cases of renal artery ectopia, the ectopic arteries had a high origin above their usual anatomic position or concurred with an ectopic kidney [ 8 , 9 ]. Doppman [ 10 ] first described a single ectopic renal artery without renal malformation or mispositioning in 1967.…”

Multiple renal veins clogging the hilum of the right kidney

“…In one of the angiographic studies conducted, right RA variations were noted in 16% cases [ 1 ]. In another recent angiographic study, accessory renal arteries were found in 10% of cases [ 2 ]. Inferior polar arteries usually arise from the aorta or other arteries below the level of the main RA.…”