Navigating Renal Vascular Anomalies: A Case of Unilateral Arterial and Venous Duplication

Abstract

Blood supply of kidney is significant due to its integral function of excretion and osmoregulation. Each kidney supplied by single renal artery, lateral branch from the abdominal aorta and drained by single renal vein draining into IVC. Present case describes clinically significant variation of kidney with unilateral duplication of renal vessels. In this case, right kidney is supplied by the two renal arteries arising from the aorta and drained by two renal veins. The accessory renal artery here traversed between two renal veins. This can compromise the blood supply due to impingement. Duplication of renal vessels holds significance in renal surgeries as it will take longer time of anastomosis and can create technical difficulties during mobilization. Kidneys are most commonly transplanted organs, so knowledge of such variations which can affect the success of transplantation is significant. 20-25% of the cardiac output is received by kidneys so variations in the renal vessels affecting circulation may lead to clinical manifestations related to cardiovascular system too. Urologists, radiologists, and vascular surgeons need to know about these variations for segmental resections, renal transplantations, treatment of abdominal aorta aneurysms, renal stenosis treatment and clinical evaluation of renal vascular hypertension.