Open surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm in association with horseshoe kidney: Case report

Abstract

Introduction. Horseshoe kidney is a congenital anomaly in which both kidneys are fused across the midline. An aneurysm is a permanent, irreversible localized dilatation of a blood vessel, at least 1.5 times its normal diameter. The concomitant occurrence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm and a horseshoe kidney is rare, appearing in only 0.12% of patients with a previously diagnosed abdominal aortic aneurysm. The management of an abdominal aortic aneurysm in the presence of a horseshoe kidney poses a unique challenge for surgeons due to the close proximity of the kidneys and the variations in the vascularization of the horseshoe kidney. Case Report. We present two cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm in patients with a horseshoe kidney, with vascularization types I and II, successfully treated using a transperitoneal surgical approach without sectioning the isthmus. Conclusion. Given the variability in treatment options for these conditions, every case must be evaluated individually to determine the best therapeutic approach for the patient.