Bilateral Prehilar Branching of Renal Arteries

Abstract

Background: Variation in renal arteries are very common but bilateral variation is rare and is clinically important for urologist especially during the renal transplantation. Generally main renal artery divides into anterior and posterior branches just before entering the hilum of kidney, but sometimes two or more polar arteries; prehilar branching and segmental arteries arise from main renal artery .Renal artery variations are often seen and are generally categorized into presence of accessory or aberrant renal arteries, polar arteries and prehilar branches. Prehilar multiple branching of main renal artery variation is frequently seen. Materials and Method:The present study was conducted in 80 kidneys from 40 cadavers during the routine dissection in the Department of Anatomy Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College and Muzaffarnagar Medical College .Out of 80 kidneys studied bilateral prehilar branching of renal arteries from the main renal artery were observed in 5 kidneys (6.5%). Conclusion:Different arterial branching patterns was observed in five cases in which prehilar branches originated directly from main renal artery, entering the upper pole of kidney. Knowledge of such variation is important for radiologists, anatomists and urologists while performing renal transplantation, laparoscopic renal surgeries, nephrectomies, and other renal surgeries and diagnosis.