A cadaveric series on urovascular anomalies

Abstract

Congenital anomalies of the urogenital system are a wide spectrum of variations. The multiplex embryogenesis of the kidney can lead to variations in the excretory system and vascularity to it. It poses a risk to conditions such as vesicoureteral reflux, obstruction, stenosis of one or both orifices, ureterocoele, and in surgical and radiological procedures. Vascular variations such as aberrant or accessory renal vessels can cause possible compression on the ureters and is important clinically. Hence, this case series was aimed to bring out various urovascular anomalies noticed for 2 years during dissection for 1st-year medical students. Of the four cases, accessory renal arteries were noted in two, whereas aberrant renal arteries were seen in the other two. The accessory and aberrant renal arteries had a smaller caliber when compared with the main renal arteries. Variations with a preponderance to arterial origin were seen with notable differences in the size of the kidney. When these arteries are present, the size of the kidney on that side is greater than the other side. In addition, they were also associated with other anomalies such as complete bifid ureter, incomplete rotation, retroaortic left renal vein, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Developmental anomalies may not confine to a single anomaly but a heterogeneous deviation in a single case per se, which must be identified and explored. This might help the surgeons in transplantation procedures and endovascular interventions.

Keywords

• aberrant renal artery
• accessory renal artery
• aortic aneurysm
• bifid ureter
• retroaortic vein