Incidence of variations in human cadaveric renal vessels.

BACKGROUND: Awareness of discrepancies of renal vasculature is crucial for some medical procedures. The present study investigated origin and course of aberrant and accessory renal vessels and any associated variations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Renal blood vessels of 63 cadavers were examined. Number of renal veins and arteries, arrangement, location where the vasculature attached to the kidneys, and presence of variations were recorded. Incidence of renal vasculature variations was determined, and associations were tested with age at death, sex, and cause of death and whether variations were more common on a specific side.

RESULTS: Variations were found in 7 (11%; 95% confidence interval, 5%-22%) cadavers. For renal veins, double, triple, and quadruple veins unilaterally (5, 8%) and veins that drained the superior pole (1, 2%) or inferior pole only (5, 8%) were found. For renal arteries, double and triple arteries unilaterally (3, 5%) and arteries attached to the superior pole only (1, 2%) or inferior pole only (2, 3%) were found. Other variations (polycystic kidney, variations in the common iliac or gonadal veins) were observed. Only renal failure as a cause of death was different between those with or without variations (4/7 [57%] vs. 1/56 [2%]; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The present study found many variations in renal vasculature. Awareness of such variations may be useful for physicians concerned with this region.