Reno-iliac intrasystem anastomoses of the inferior vena cava

Abstract

The study objective is to describe the anastomoses between the left renal and iliac veins in the inferior vena cava system and to classify these anastomoses.Materials and methods. From 2015 to 2020, 340 men with varicose veins of the pelvic organs and bilateral varicocele were examined. Delayed imaging for 10–30 s with phlebotesticulography of 157 patients allowed us to study in more detail the vascular venous x-ray anatomy of the scrotum and various options for collateral circulation.Results. The data obtained by us during phlebography allowed us to offer our own classification of anastomoses between the left renal vein and the common iliac vein in the inferior vena cava system (reno-iliac intrasystemic anastomoses of the inferior vena cava): 1) through the vein of the vas deferens (v. ductus deferens), 2) through the cremasteric vein (v. cremasterica), 3) through the external testicular vein (v. testicularis externa). In addition to the classification, the terms for specific types of anastomoses are also proposed by us for the first time and do not have a name in the medical scientific literature. A new definition of the term “venous anastomotic node (nodus venarum anastomoticus) of the testis and its appendage” is proposed, which describes the anatomical relationship between the 4 veins: the internal testicular vein, external testicular vein, vena cremasterica and veins of the vas deferens. A new term is proposed “pseudo-varicocele” that defines the compensatory expansion of the internal testicular vein during normal antegrade blood flow through it.Conclusion. In this work, we give an X-ray anatomical description of the development of various types of collateral circulation in the system of the inferior vena cava between the left renal vein and iliac vessels in various types of arteriovenous conflicts of both the upper (nutcracker syndrome, posterior nutcracker syndrome) and the lower level (May–Thurner syndrome).

Keywords

• pelvic varices
• varicocele
• nutcracker syndrome
• may–thurner syndrome
• venous anastomoses